The atmosphere at Rongmuzhai was much better than at the main courtyard.
The Fourth Prince gently stroked Rongyu’s lower abdomen. “Rest well. I need to go report the good news to the Emperor and Empress. I’ll come see you later.”
“My Lord, this concubine’s condition hasn’t been confirmed yet. What if there’s a mistake and we celebrate for nothing? Why not wait ten days until the imperial physician has taken my pulse again before discussing it?” Rongyu was still unaware that the Prince’s Consort was also with child, and only assumed the Fourth Prince wanted to report her own good news.
“Yours can wait for now. The main courtyard also carries a three-month pregnancy. I’ll go report the Prince’s Consort’s condition first.”
Rongyu blushed slightly, realizing she had been presumptuous. She corrected herself: “This concubine did not know the Prince’s Consort was already three months with child. That must not be delayed. My Lord, please go at once.”
The Fourth Prince saw Rongyu’s blush and the guilt in her eyes. In ordinary times, he would have teased the rarely-embarrassed Consort Fuca with a few playful remarks, but today he simply had no mood for it.
He patted Rongyu’s hand and rose to leave. When he reached the doorway, something occurred to him and he turned back to say: “The imperial physician said your body is in excellent condition, and there’s no need to drink any tonic medicines. Be a good girl and listen to the physician. If I find out you’ve dared to secretly drink any of those damned supplements, I won’t let it go lightly.”
With that, he left. Muxi, standing nearby, was full of confusion and couldn’t help but ask: “My lady, what did the Lord mean by…”
“It’s nothing. My pregnancy is still early—for the first three months, we’ll keep our doors closed and live quietly. The Prince’s Consort is also with child, so she won’t pay attention to me. From now on, aside from the Lord and Consort Gao, I’ll see no one else. Just say I’m feeling unwell.”
“Yes, my lady. Are you hungry? The small kitchen has freshly made wontons. This servant will fetch you a bowl?” Muxi was not as clever as Muyun, but she knew best what was good for her. She knew her lady would never harm her, so whatever her lady said, she followed. And now that her lady was with child, she certainly couldn’t go hungry.
Rongyu was indeed a bit hungry. Eunuch Wang at the small kitchen was quite skilled—his wontons had thin wrappers and generous fillings, and the broth used to cook them was wonderfully fresh.
“Go ahead. Remember what the imperial physician just said about certain ingredients being off-limits. Ask clearly before you bring anything.”
“This servant understands.”
After Muxi left, only Rongyu and Muyun remained in the inner chamber. Rongyu finally spoke: “Muyun, tell me—that remark from the Lord just now, was it about the Prince’s Consort…”
Muyun leaned close to Rongyu’s bed and lowered her voice: “The Prince’s Consort must have drunk too much tonic medicine. This servant recalls that the Prince’s Consort was already drinking medicine when she first arrived. Consort Gao even came specifically to mention it.”
That was right. Consort Gao had a somewhat weak constitution and had drunk medicine year-round. It was only after she began taking lunch with Rongyu regularly and playing shuttlecock that her health started to improve. Now she no longer needed to drink medicine daily, and her monthly Peace Pulse readings were increasingly favorable.
But over the years, she had become very sensitive to the smell of medicinal herbs. She had privately told Rongyu that the Prince’s Consort always carried a faint scent of medicine—similar to the tonic she herself used to take.
With that explanation, Rongyu understood. No wonder the Fourth Prince had arrived with a furrowed brow.
“We needn’t get involved. We’ll just live our own lives.”
As she spoke, Consort Gao arrived. Without waiting to be announced, she walked straight into the inner chamber: “What happened to you today? Taking a Peace Pulse took this long.”
“Muyun, serve tea for Consort Gao. The chrysanthemums in my courtyard have bloomed—perfect for brewing tea.”
“Alright, alright, I’ll drink anything. The people at the main courtyard were all on edge today, and it’s no different here. What on earth is going on? At least give me some idea so I can prepare myself.” Consort Gao had always been an impatient sort.
“The Prince’s Consort is over three months with child. I’m about one month.” Rongyu didn’t hide anything and said it directly.
“This—this—why didn’t you tell me sooner? We were playing shuttlecock together just yesterday. Is everything alright?” Consort Gao grew anxious. After years of getting along, their friendship was genuine.
“I only just found out myself. You’re only about the time it takes to burn one stick of incense behind me.” Taking advantage of Muyun bringing up the freshly brewed chrysanthemum tea, she let Consort Gao drink some to calm her nerves before continuing: “My constitution has always been good, so there’s nothing to worry about. As for the Prince’s Consort—keep a tight rein on your people these days. Whatever you do, don’t cross paths with her.”
Consort Gao’s heart skipped a beat, and she had an ominous feeling: “Don’t tell me there’s something wrong with the Prince’s Consort’s pregnancy?”
“Keep your voice down. Do you want to stir up trouble?” Rongyu was startled by the sudden exclamation. She glanced at Muyun, who quickly went to the door to check. This time Consort Gao had brought both of her Lan-name maidservants—Lan Hu was keeping watch outside, while Lan Xin had accompanied her into the inner chamber.
Nothing was amiss. Muyun returned to the inner chamber and nodded at Rongyu.
“If I’m not mistaken, the lady of the main courtyard drank too much tonic medicine, and the child in her womb isn’t very strong.”
“Can drinking too much tonic really cause problems?”
“Did you think I was joking when I kept telling you to take fewer medicines? Food tonics are better than medicine tonics—I’ve told you this who knows how many times.” Still annoyed, Rongyu reached out and gently pinched Consort Gao’s cheek.
Consort Gao didn’t dodge; after all, it didn’t hurt.
Just then, Muxi brought in a bowl of small wontons. Rongyu simply divided half a bowl for Consort Gao, and the two ate together. The chrysanthemum tea was kept warm on the stove, never going cold.
After finishing this extra meal, Consort Gao wasn’t in a hurry to leave. She occasionally reached out to gently touch Rongyu’s belly, her eyes full of envy.
Rongyu noticed all of this, let out a soft sigh, and took Consort Gao’s hand. “Everything that happened today must not be known to anyone else.”
“Look at you, am I really someone who doesn’t know her place? I know what should and shouldn’t be said.”
“Qingwen, would you be willing to let Muyun take your pulse?” Rongyu couldn’t bear the envy and loneliness in Consort Gao’s eyes, so she decided to help her once more. “That girl knows a bit of medicine.”
Consort Gao understood the unspoken meaning behind Rongyu’s words. Why wouldn’t she be willing? She directly extended her wrist toward Muyun.
“I humbly presume upon Consort Gao.” Muyun had been told by her mistress earlier that she should find an opportunity to examine Consort Gao, so she didn’t decline and stepped forward to assess Consort Gao’s condition.
“May I trouble Consort Gao to let me see your tongue coating?” The posture was somewhat inelegant, but since no one else was watching, Consort Gao complied.
“If Consort Gao trusts me, let me help you regulate your body over the coming year. Your chances of conceiving will greatly increase.”
“Is my body not in good condition now?”
“Consort Gao is still young. My mistress was also regulating her body at your age. These things cannot be rushed.” Consort Gao was the same age as the Fourth Prince, both born in the fiftieth year of the late emperor, a few months younger than the Fourth Prince. All told, she was a full year younger than Rongyu, so there was indeed no need to rush.
Consort Gao understood the reasoning. Whatever she felt inside, she simply said, “Then I’ll trouble Miss Muyun. I’ll have Lan Xin come over to assist you.”
Everyone understood the unspoken words. Sending Lan Xin over wasn’t because Consort Gao thought Rongyu would have Muyun do anything against her—it was simply to avoid leaving any leverage for either side. They all treated each other with sincerity, but avoidable risks were still best avoided.
“Sister Rong, if this turns out to be a prince, that would be wonderful. If I truly can never conceive, then in the future I can rely on him to support me in my old age.” Setting aside the heavier topic from just now, Consort Gao joked.
“I actually hope this is a daughter. As for a prince, let’s wait a while longer.”
“You’re afraid of overshadowing the other side?”
“I am. I don’t believe you haven’t heard of the matters in the previous dynasty. Besides, a concubine’s eldest son always has to act with too much caution. If it’s a daughter, I can’t have her take the position of the legitimate eldest, but even the title of concubine’s eldest daughter would be good. In the future, we might even be able to seek a marriage within the capital for her.”
“That’s true. A daughter is better. We’ll raise her to be a bit spoiled and willful. I’ll give all the best things to our little miss.”
“I’ll remember those words. In the future, I’ll have to bring our little miss to visit Aunt Gao’s Qinglan Studio often to collect rewards.”
“Come, come, not just that. However many you have in the future, I’ll give to all of them. It’s not like you can empty out my Qinglan Studio, right?” The young and naive Consort Gao would one day pay a heavy price for those words.
The atmosphere at Rongmuzhai was warm and harmonious, but the Fourth Prince was half-pleased and half-worried as he sent word to the three most powerful figures in the palace. Aside from the Empress sending gifts as per custom, Emperor Yuanli and Consort Shun both paid special attention. Emperor Yuanli directly waved his hand and dispatched both the Chief Imperial Physician and Imperial Physician Qin to the Fourth Prince’s residence—one to attend to each person, with orders to ensure the safety of both mother and child.
The Prince’s Consort was also to rest well during this period, and was excused from the customary greetings every five days until she recovered her health.
By this point, the women of the rear courtyard had all learned that the Prince’s Consort and Consort Fuca were both with child. Whatever their true feelings, congratulatory gifts were hurriedly sent to the main courtyard and Rongmuzhai. Consort Su even wanted to visit in person to offer her congratulations, but Rongyu declined on the grounds of feeling unwell.
Some rejoiced while others worried. Whatever bitterness lay within the five courtyards of the Fourth Prince’s residence, only each woman knew for herself.