The news of Xuanshi Pu's pregnancy successfully surpassed Zhuang Cairen's assistance to the Crown Princess in managing Eastern Palace affairs, becoming the new headline news of the Eastern Palace.
During the morning greetings the next day, Xuanshi Pu, who had been silent for a long time due to Jieyu Chu's matter, regained her vitality.
"Your Highness knows, this concubine has always been a bit careless. This time, fortunately, Zhaoyi noticed and reported it to you on my behalf. You also cared for me and directly sent the Female Physician to see me. Otherwise, if something were to happen to the imperial grandson because of my carelessness, how could I ever have the face to see you and His Highness again?" Xuanshi Pu covered her still unnoticeable belly as she cooed to the Crown Princess.
"Your Highness, this is my first pregnancy, and I know nothing about it. I must rely entirely on Your Highness's care."
Song Miaorong did not want to watch Xuanshi Pu feign ignorance and play the fool. She lowered her head to drink tea, thinking to herself, "You know nothing? If you knew nothing, would you have kept silent and waited until three months had passed, when the pregnancy was stable, before speaking up? Perhaps even the Crown Princess doesn't know as much as you do."
The Crown Princess's temper remained as gentle as ever.
She comforted Xuanshi Pu: "You didn't know before, but now that you know you are with child, just be careful from now on. If you feel unwell anywhere, don't be afraid of causing trouble—tell me or Zhaoyi immediately. The imperial grandson is important, and you, Xuanshi Pu, must also take good care of yourself."
"With Your Highness's words, what else could I worry about? Your Highness, I truly don't know how many lifetimes of blessings I accumulated to encounter such a wonderful lady as you," Xuanshi Pu continued, covering her belly and ingratiating herself with the Crown Princess.
Zhuang Yunlan was somewhat curious about Zhaoyi's expression, but she did not look up.
Through discussions with the female officials, Zhuang Yunlan had discovered that those small actions they thought no one could see were actually all too easy to detect for those sitting at the head.
In just these past few days, she had noticed every time a female official glanced at another. During idle moments, she had even secretly imagined the "love and hate" dramas among the female officials, though unfortunately, she had no one to share them with.
Not long after, the Crown Princess dismissed the gathering.
Xuanshi Pu was reluctant to leave. Using the excuse of wanting to ask the Crown Princess for advice on pregnancy care methods, she lingered and dawdled.
But compared to Xuanshi Pu, who had just stabilized her pregnancy, the Crown Princess, over four months pregnant, was clearly the more fragile one.
As soon as the Crown Princess's hand touched her waist, Mama Hu skillfully sent Xuanshi Pu away.
Then, led by Zhaoyi of the Crown Prince, all the Cairen and Xuanshi—except for Zhuang Yunlan, who had to stay behind to work—followed Zhaoyi out of the main hall.
Taking advantage of her standing position, Zhuang Yunlan noticed Xuanshi Xiang casting envious glances at Xuanshi Pu's belly several times.
Xuanshi Pu also noticed. She straightened her back, supported her still-flat belly, and assumed the full posture of a pregnant woman.
As the group walked out of the main courtyard, Xuanshi Pu pushed past Song Miaorong and sidled up to Shen Zhao Yi, saying warmly, "Let me support you."
Shen Zhao Yi smiled, subtly shifting to the side to maintain a step's distance from Xuanshi Pu, and said with dignity, "Xuanshi, watch your step. You are with child now, so there's no need to rush to do such things. I have the palace personnel to attend to me."
Even though she was rejected, Xuanshi Pu did not retreat. She continued speaking to Shen Zhao Yi with fervent enthusiasm.
Song Miaorong bit her lip and followed silently behind them. It wasn't until she entered her own bedchamber and dismissed all the palace maids that the rigidly straight posture she had maintained along the way finally relaxed.
She lay face down on the brocade quilt, her eyes slowly reddening. Before the tears could even fall, she quickly wiped them away.
Xique was anxiously pacing outside, worried that her mistress was tormenting herself. She wanted to go in and console her but was stopped by Huamei.
"Didn't our mistress tell us to leave?" Huamei sighed. "Don't you know her? She used to be just like Zhuang Cairen—each of them had their own strengths, and when you really thought about it, neither was inferior to the other. But now? Ever since Jieyu Chu fell from grace, how many times has His Highness the Crown Prince visited Zhuang Cairen? Among all the ladies in the rear courtyard, aside from the Crown Princess, have you seen anyone else receive such treatment? And now Zhuang Cairen has even earned the Crown Princess's favor, exceptionally assisting with palace affairs. It's clear she's about to become different from our mistress…"
Huamei shook her head and sighed. "If it were just Zhuang Cairen, that might be one thing, but even Pu Xuan Shi has quietly conceived His Highness's child. Our mistress is such a proud person. Though she doesn't say it, who knows how much pain she's feeling inside? If you go in now, won't you just embarrass her?"
Xique looked at Huamei, then at the bedchamber, and finally said dejectedly, "Then I'll go to the kitchen and at least order a few dishes our mistress likes."
This time, Huamei didn't stop her, though privately she felt their mistress would likely still go to serve the meal for Shen Zhao Yi as usual.
Sure enough, the chamber door soon opened, and Song Miaorong emerged.
There was no trace of tears on her face as she said to Huamei, "Come in and do my hair. I still have to go to the Zhaoyi's place later."
Among the two newly promoted concubines in Zhaohua Hall, Pu Xuan Shi was lively and charming, often going to chat with Shen Zhao Yi, displaying a keen awareness of staying close to those in authority. Even when Jieyu Chu was around and looked down on her, frequently shooting her sharp glances, Pu Xuan Shi still made her way to Shen Zhao Yi's side without fail.
Though Song Miaorong also enjoyed chatting and laughing, Shen Zhao Yi had always been rather indifferent toward them. Jieyu Chu, who had long resided in Zhaohua Hall, had never shown them a friendly face either. Gradually, Song Miaorong grew less inclined to visit Shen Zhao Yi.
But when it came to paying respects or serving meals, Song Miaorong never neglected her duties.
The main hall of Zhaohua Hall, as usual, had no incense burning, but a faint, elusive scent of ink lingered in the air. After finishing her calligraphy practice, Shen Zhao Yi glanced at the hourglass, rose from her desk, and went to the flower hall for her meal.
Like the Crown Princess, Shen Zhao Yi was not one to make things difficult for other concubines, but she also differed from the Crown Princess in many ways.
Song Miaorong could understand the Crown Princess, but often, she couldn't quite fathom Shen Zhao Yi.
Still, to be fair, Shen Zhao Yi was an excellent senior consort.
Take meals, for example. Though Song Miaorong came to serve Shen Zhao Yi's meal according to protocol, Shen Zhao Yi always invited her to sit and eat together, never actually making her serve.
Because of Zhuang Yunlan, Song Miaorong knew that when Jieyu Chu was in the Eastern Palace, she hadn't been nearly as accommodating.
Unless Jieyu Chu herself chose to visit Shen Zhao Yi and exempted the concubines of Chenghua Hall from serving meals, she would have made Zhuang Yunlan and Xuan Shi Xiang stand by her side like palace maids, waiting on her.
Zhuang Yunlan had spoken lightly at the time, even teasing herself with a hint of mischief, but Song Miaorong felt a pang of sorrow on her behalf and was even more grateful that she had been assigned to Zhaohua Hall back then.
She was grateful to Shen Zhaoyi, but Shen Zhaoyi did not seem inclined to be close with them, so Song Miaorong kept that gratitude hidden in her heart.
The meal proceeded as quietly as usual.
After rinsing her mouth and washing her hands, Song Miaorong curtsied and took her leave.
But as she reached the doorway, Shen Zhaoyi called her back.
Song Miaorong stopped and turned around. Shen Zhaoyi’s voice remained as elegant and composed as ever as she asked gently, “I heard from the palace personnel that you were looking for something to hang on the wall to decorate your room?”
Song Miaorong acknowledged with a “yes,” standing there to await Shen Zhaoyi’s next words, feeling a mix of confusion and nervousness.
Shen Zhaoyi said, “I once came across a piece of calligraphy by chance. Though I liked it, I never found a suitable place to display it, and it has been gathering dust instead. If Cairen Song doesn’t mind, you may take it.”
A palace maid brought out the calligraphy and presented it to Song Miaorong.
Song Miaorong expressed her gratitude and looked down at it. It was a poem of just twenty-eight characters:
“Spring has a hundred flowers, autumn has the moon;
Summer has cool breezes, winter has snow.
If idle worries do not burden the heart,
Every season is a good season in this world.”
Song Miaorong’s eyes grew warm with emotion.
She curtsied to Shen Zhaoyi once more and carefully carried the calligraphy out of the flower hall.
“My lady, wasn’t that your favorite piece of calligraphy? In the past, Jieyu Chu pleaded with you for so long, but you never relented and gave it to her,” the palace maid said as she helped Shen Zhaoyi back to the study.
“Jieyu Chu didn’t truly want it; she was just teasing me,” Shen Zhaoyi replied, her tone carrying a relaxed ease seldom seen in public. She pointed to her own eyes. “Didn’t you notice? Cairen Song wore an extra layer of powder today. She’s new to the palace and has high aspirations—she must be struggling. Fortunately, she’s clever. I’m a few years older than her, and since I hold this position, I might as well offer some guidance when I can. It costs me nothing, and I can’t just watch her spiral into despair.”
The palace maid said no more, for Shen Zhaoyi had already returned to her desk and resumed reading.