Xuan Shi Xiang’s pretty face turned pale, then green, then pale again. She could only force herself to appear grateful as she thanked Zhuang Cairen for the gift of the book. Then, with an awkward expression, she followed Zhuang Cairen to where the Crown Princess was seated.
This time, she did get her wish to see the Crown Prince.
Unfortunately, His Highness the Crown Prince was seated side by side with the Crown Princess at the head of the hall. Even when they paid their respects, his command to "rise" was directed at Zhuang Cairen, as if he hadn’t noticed Xiang Xiaorou at all.
Xuan Shi Xiang’s heart sank with disappointment.
But the Crown Princess’s presence was clearly not a place where she could try to attract the Crown Prince’s attention.
Banquets in the Jing Dynasty followed a divided seating arrangement. Xuan Shi Xiang, ranked at the lowest level, sat resentfully at the very last seat, silently hoping that the Crown Prince would grace her with a glance.
Pu Xuan Shi, who was pregnant, was far bolder than Xuan Shi Xiang.
Although she also sat at the last seat, she stood up without hesitation and spoke to the Crown Prince with a blatant lie: "Your Highness, the imperial grandson just kicked me again. Do you think he can’t wait to come out and see you and Her Highness? I’m so looking forward to it."
The Crown Prince looked at the Crown Princess in confusion, his eyes clearly asking: How many months along is Attendant Pu? How could the baby be kicking already? Could it be stomach pain mistaken for movement? If something’s wrong, call the Female Physician for a pulse diagnosis immediately.
The Crown Princess, being pregnant herself, knew that a fetus of that size couldn’t possibly kick.
She wasn’t so naive as to miss Pu Xuan Shi’s intentions.
The Crown Princess smoothed things over for Pu Xuan Shi: "Perhaps you’re tired from watching the lanterns today and your stomach feels uncomfortable? Feng Si Yao happens to be here. Let her examine you."
Seeing that the Crown Prince ignored her, Pu Xuan Shi wasn’t discouraged. She obediently thanked the Crown Princess for her kindness.
After all, whether her stomach felt comfortable or not was a momentary thing—no one could say for sure.
If she claimed to feel something, Feng Si Yao naturally wouldn’t insist that nothing was wrong and embarrass a pregnant concubine of the Eastern Palace.
Moving past this, Pu Xuan Shi continued to seize every opportunity to act coquettishly and playfully toward the Crown Prince and Crown Princess.
It wasn’t until the Crown Prince told her to go back and rest that Pu Xuan Shi reluctantly glanced at him one last time before rising, curtsying, and taking her leave.
Xuan Shi Xiang’s envious gaze once again drifted toward Pu Xuan Shi’s belly.
Without pregnancy or favor, she naturally didn’t dare to imitate Pu Xuan Shi’s ostentatious behavior.
Thinking this, Xuan Shi Xiang shifted her gaze to Zhuang Cairen, seated in front of her.
Zhuang Cairen had been quite favored recently. Unfortunately, her belly wasn’t as promising as Pu Xuan Shi’s—there was still no good news. Although her rank was one level higher than Pu Xuan Shi’s, she still had to sit quietly and dine, just like someone without favor.
If Zhuang Yunlan knew what Xuan Shi Xiang was thinking, she’d probably want to roll her eyes.
Really, what else was she supposed to do if not eat?
Flirt with the Crown Prince in front of the Crown Princess?
Hadn’t Crown Prince’s Jieyu just been sent to the Inner Anle Hall to "recuperate" not long ago?
With such a bloody lesson right before their eyes, there were still people thinking about this.
How bold. She had to admire it.
However, Zhuang Yunlan had no time to ponder what Xuan Shi Xiang was thinking.
Because the banquet’s dishes were simply too delicious.
For someone like Zhuang Yunlan, who came from a common background, Dragon Liver and Phoenix Marrow might be too rich to eat every day, but having it once every few days was a definite upgrade—a true feast for the taste buds.
Zhuang Yunlan was so focused on eating that she didn’t even notice the Crown Prince looking at her.
But Zhang Bao did.
He saw the Crown Prince glance towards Lady Zhuang's seat.
Then, Zhang Bao began discreetly observing which dishes Lady Zhuang picked up. After clearly seeing her choices, he silently served the same to the Crown Prince.
This was standard procedure by now. Zhang Bao had practiced it frequently lately and executed it with effortless ease.
But the Crown Princess was unaware. She only noticed that the Jinxiu Shenxia Fan on the Crown Prince's table had been eaten quite a bit, and then she saw him start on the Xianghua Yus.
The Crown Princess felt somewhat bewildered.
She remembered that the Crown Prince disliked fish, finding it too fishy.
In truth, whether it was the Shangshi Bureau or the Dong Gong Shanfang, their fish preparation techniques were excellent. Since entering the palace, the Crown Princess had never found fish to be fishy again.
But because the Crown Prince disliked the taste, she rarely ate fish herself, fearing that any scent she might not notice would be detected by him, leading to his displeasure.
Today's Xianghua Yus was likely a newly developed dish from the kitchen.
Fish was served at all palace banquets, large and small. Previously, the Crown Prince had merely avoided eating it, never expressing a desire not to see fish served, so the Crown Princess hadn't made an issue of it.
She had assumed he would ignore the dish as before.
What was different today?
Could it be that the kitchen had prepared this dish exceptionally well?
The Crown Princess also lowered her head to take a bite, finding it no different from the fish she usually ate.
But since the Crown Prince liked it, the kitchen deserved credit.
The Crown Princess decided to reward the kitchen.
Ma Nao brought the kitchen's head stewardess over.
Seeing that the Crown Prince seemed somewhat interested, the Crown Princess had the stewardess stand nearby to introduce how each of the new dishes was prepared.
Zhuang Yunlan pricked up her ears to "eavesdrop," and the Crown Prince noticed her eating pace had noticeably slowed.
He did not interrupt the stewardess's explanations.
The stewardess introduced over ten dishes, feeling she had never been so honored in her entire life.
She would tell her mother she had made something of herself.
Clutching the reward silver excitedly, the stewardess departed.
The banquet was nearing its end.
Several concubines stood up to bow to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, then withdrew from the main hall, each returning to their own quarters.
After a good day's rest, Song Miaorong came to chat with Zhuang Yunlan.
She told Zhuang Yunlan that Shen Zhao Yi's mother and sister-in-law had entered the palace today.
Zhuang Yunlan: "Her Majesty the Empress really agreed?"
"Of course. If Her Majesty hadn't given permission, who could have entered the palace gates?" Song Miaorong felt both The Emperor and Empress doted on the Crown Princess. At her request, they had actually allowed the family of the Zhaoyi of the Crown Prince to enter the palace.
She said: "It's just that Pu Xuan Shi has no tact at all. Think about it—Shen Zhao Yi has been in the palace for several years, finally able to exceptionally meet her maternal family, and Pu Xuan Shi shamelessly lingered at Shen Zhao Yi's place, refusing to leave. When I came over earlier, she was still pestering Shen Zhao Yi's mother with all sorts of questions, saying she was curious about the customs and lifestyles of the common folk in the Central Plains. Hmph, such a provincial attitude!"
Song Miaorong curled her lip disdainfully. "It's just pitiful for Shen Zhao Yi, unable to have any private words with her family. And yet Pu Xuan Shi is pregnant with an imperial grandson, so no one can really say anything to her."
Zhuang Yunlan felt that Song Miaorong seemed closer to Shen Zhao Yi now.
Previously, when she mentioned Shen Zhao Yi, although she also admired her, she had never expressed sympathy for her hardships.
Because in their hearts, Shen Zhao Yi was a superior to be looked up to.
Today's Song Miaorong reminded Zhuang Yunlan of the former Jieyu Chu.
This feeling was very unpleasant.
Recalling the days spent counting stars together at Qionghua Palace, Zhuang Yunlan genuinely did not want to see Song Miaorong follow in Jieyu Chu's footsteps.
She said to Song Miaorong, "Don't grieve too much for Zhaoyi. Think back to what we discussed last time—Zhaoyi will have many opportunities to see her family in the future. No matter how disagreeable Pu Xuanshi may be, she is now carrying His Highness's child, a truly precious situation. You must absolutely avoid conflict with her."
"I know what I'm doing. I only speak this way with you," Song Miaorong smiled slightly, pointing toward the direction of Chenghua Zhengdian and lowering her voice, "Don't worry, I'm not as foolish as that one."
The two huddled together by the fire, just as they used to at Qionghua Palace, talking all morning and even sharing their midday meal.
After the meal, Song Miaorong rose to return, and Zhuang Yunlan accompanied her to see her off. When they reached Chenghua Men, Song Miaorong released her arm from Zhuang Yunlan's and said, "Alright, you should head back now."
Zhuang Yunlan nodded, watching as Song Miaorong walked away before turning to go back herself. Suddenly, she was called back by Song Miaorong.