The sky was just beginning to brighten with a hazy light. As soon as Shen Lingshu arrived at Autumn Crabapple Courtyard, Caolv came forward to greet her: “Concubine Shen, the Side Consort requests you to come inside and assist with her morning wash.”
Shen Lingshu’s eyes flickered slightly. It seemed Side Consort Fang still intended to assert her authority over her?
She followed Caolv into the inner chamber, where Side Consort Fang, having just risen, was still dressed in her sleeping garments.
“What are you standing there for? Hurry up and help the Side Consort change,” Matron Gui urged, eyeing Shen Lingshu with disdain. This little wretch, did she think serving the Prince twice meant she could rise above her station?
“Yes,” Shen Lingshu replied, lowering her gaze as she picked up the clothes and began dressing Side Consort Fang. She thought to herself, if Side Consort Fang dared to mistreat her, she would simply faint on the spot and see how the Side Consort’s reputation would fare then!
Fortunately, Side Consort Fang only looked at her with an odd expression, her tone haughty and condescending, as if she truly only intended for Shen Lingshu to help her dress.
Concubine Lin was absent due to illness, so in the side hall, only Side Consort Fang and Concubine Li remained. The two exchanged barbs, clearly at odds with each other.
Shen Lingshu remained neutral, siding with neither. Soon, the morning greetings concluded.
Returning to Secluded Orchid Courtyard, Shen Lingshu collapsed onto the soft couch and said, “Zhuxin, I’m going to catch up on some sleep. Wake me when it’s time for the midday meal.”
“Matron Gui, what happened?”
Once everyone had left, Side Consort Fang’s expression darkened. “Didn’t that little maid from Secluded Orchid Courtyard say yesterday that the Prince was driven away in anger?” Yet this morning, the Prince had still left from Secluded Orchid Courtyard.
Matron Gui replied in a low voice, “Side Consort, I just found out that the Prince was indeed angered and left, but Lady Shen chased after him. I don’t know what trick she used, but she managed to bring the Prince back.”
Crash!
Side Consort Fang smashed the teacup in her hand and said angrily, “Investigate!”
“Yes,” Matron Gui immediately went to have someone look into it. Unfortunately, Chayu, eager to claim credit, had rushed to Autumn Crabapple Courtyard to report as soon as the Prince left. By the time she returned, the Prince and Concubine Shen were already in the inner chamber.
Zhuxin was tight-lipped, ensuring nothing would be discovered.
Night.
Shen Lingshu took a deep breath. “What did the kitchen prepare today? It smells so good!”
After a simple lunch and a long afternoon nap, she finally felt like herself again.
“Lotus root with osmanthus, cherry pork, and stir-fried three shredded vegetables. Concubine, try this cuttlefish soup while it’s hot—it’s very fresh,” Zhuxin said as she set out the dishes.
Shen Lingshu asked, “Why is there one more dish than yesterday?”
“The kitchen specially added the cuttlefish soup for you because you served the Prince yesterday,” Zhuxin replied.
Shen Lingshu asked, “Is it free?”
“Yes, no silver required,” Zhuxin confirmed, which greatly improved Shen Lingshu’s appetite. In the Prince’s rear courtyard, being favored was truly wonderful!
“Prince?”
Zhuxin was momentarily surprised but quickly added another set of bowls and chopsticks for Prince Lin.
“Has Your Highness had dinner yet? It just so happens that I had someone prepare lotus root with osmanthus and cherry pork today. Would Your Highness like to try some?” Shen Lingshu didn’t care why Prince Lin had come. As long as he was here, she would greet him with a smile.
Her flower-like smile made the food on the table seem even more delicious. Without answering, Prince Lin sat down directly. Shen Lingshu warmly introduced the dishes: “The sweet and sticky lotus root with osmanthus is delicious.”
“And this cherry pork.”
Shen Lingshu enthusiastically introduced the dishes, and Prince Lin unconsciously ate an extra bowl of rice. Looking at Shen Lingshu, who was smiling and chatting cheerfully, Prince Lin felt that although her appearance was only fifty percent similar to Qiu Rong’s, her temperament was exactly the same as Qiu Rong’s in her youth.
In her younger years, Qiu Rong was also like Shen Lingshu now—straightforward and guileless, speaking her mind openly, carefree, with every thought written on her face.
After marriage, Qiu Rong matured and became steady, treating everyone in the rear courtyard kindly. Anyone who saw her would praise Princess Consort Lin for her knowledge and propriety. It was just a pity…
Prince Lin’s eyes darkened slightly. Those concubines in the rear courtyard didn’t understand Qiu Rong’s goodness at all. They repaid kindness with enmity and, taking advantage of her pregnancy, actually caused Qiu Rong’s death along with her unborn child!
If he could return to the past, he would rather Qiu Rong remain forever as she was in her youth—carefree and without worries.
“Your Highness, this cuttlefish soup is so fresh.” Shen Lingshu held a bowl of cuttlefish soup, her bright smile making Prince Lin somewhat dazed. He wanted such a bright smile to last forever.
In Autumn Crabapple Courtyard, when Side Consort Fang learned that Prince Lin had gone to Lady Shen’s place again, she smashed all the food on the table in front of her.
The next day, during the morning greetings at Autumn Crabapple Courtyard.
Today was Concubine Li’s turn to serve. During the morning greetings, Concubine Li wore a pink dress, as if she wanted to stick all her hairpins onto her head, dressed up like a peacock spreading its tail.
After hearing last night that Prince Lin had gone to Secluded Orchid Courtyard again after dinner, Concubine Li was so angry she smashed a vase in her room!
As soon as she saw Shen Lingshu, Concubine Li immediately attacked: “Concubine Shen, are you new to the mansion and don’t understand the rules? Why didn’t you follow the schedule arranged by the Concubine?”
“Concubine Li, what you say makes no sense. The Prince’s legs are his own. If His Highness wants to come, can I possibly stop him?” Shen Lingshu tilted her head, her eyes seeming to mock Concubine Li for being foolish!
“You…” Concubine Li was so angry she nearly fainted. This wretched woman, having served the Prince only twice, already thought herself important!
“If Concubine Li truly feels there’s no order, why don’t you go and speak to His Highness?” Shen Lingshu kindly suggested, silently rolling her eyes in her heart. If she had the ability, she should go find the Prince herself—why bother her?
Concubine Li: “…”
If she dared speak to the Prince, would she need to look at Shen Lingshu’s annoying face here?
Just wait, today she would serve the Prince and definitely make trouble for this wretched woman!
Concubine Li found an excuse and ran off. If she stayed any longer, she feared she would die of anger.
Night.
Maple Dan Courtyard.
“Biyu, quickly help me see if my rouge is red enough? Is the scent on my clothes too faint?”
Concubine Li lifted her sleeve to smell the fragrance on her clothes, then took off her outer robe and said, “Cuiyu, hurry and scent another set of clothes.”
“Your rouge is already very red, mistress.”
Biyu looked at Concubine Li’s face, which was as red as the morning glow, and gently reminded her.
“No, make it redder. The candlelight is dim at night. What if the Prince can’t see it? Wouldn’t all my effort be wasted?”
Concubine Li spoke again, “Send someone to ask if His Highness will come for dinner!”
Now that it was finally her turn to serve the Prince, she had to perform well and strive to get pregnant!
“Mistress, His Highness dislikes people inquiring about his whereabouts the most.” Biyu quickly reminded her.
“…”
Concubine Li dismissed the thought and, after fetching the meal, sat at the table waiting until the food had gone completely cold. Biyu cautiously reminded her, “Mistress, shall this servant take the dinner to reheat it?”
“Hurry up and go,” Concubine Li waved impatiently. Watching the maids bustling back and forth, she touched her face. It had already been seven years since she began serving the Prince.
Back then, the Prince was still the Second Prince. Unfortunately, after bowl after bowl of contraceptive medicine, by the time the Princess Consort and the Concubine entered the mansion, she could no longer conceive.
Could it be that she had grown old?
In the Secluded Orchid Courtyard, when Prince Lin’s figure appeared once again, Shen Lingshu, who had been about to eat, was taken aback, then rose with a radiant smile to welcome him.