Fugui and Qiufeng were both in the room, and when they heard what Xun Rou and Li Cheng were saying, they rolled their eyes inwardly. Right now she was saying she only wanted the title of secondary consort and nothing else, but once she gained a foothold in the household, she would likely want far more.As fellow women, who didn't know the tricks women used?Huiyin was in the kitchen, earnestly making hand-pulled noodles. She could clearly and distinctly sense that Li Cheng was actually different from many people. He wasn't swayed by others' moral coercion, and he could also get caught up in the moment and insist on winning an argument with someone. He was a man who took things seriously and had a youthful spirit—so vividly alive and real.She didn't really know him all that well.After cutting the dough into portions, she combined several strands together and began pulling them, focusing entirely on making the noodles. During this hour or so, she thought of Xun Rou. Actually, Xun Rou was rather vague to her—just like those women in her impression who wanted to climb up—but after carefully sorting through the things she had done, she felt that Xun Rou truly never gave up.Even now she still hadn't given up, so persistent. If it were a man of weaker resolve, he would probably have taken her in long ago.But he hadn't refused her for his own sake—he refused because he simply didn't like her, or perhaps he detested this kind of binding, constraining relationship, and so was unwilling to accept Xun Rou.She personally carried the tray over, but Xun Rou was already nowhere to be seen."You're such a little tormentor, making me go pull noodles. I fiddled around for ages, and now I'm all hot and sweaty." Huiyin sat down. She was reciprocating his kindness—during this month-plus in Xuzhou, Li Cheng had granted almost every request she made.Li Cheng smiled without saying much, but his actions told her the noodles were delicious, because he even drank the soup down to the last drop."The noodles are good, and the soup is good too," he said.Huiyin said, "What about Xun Rou—"He finished the noodles, and a personal guard came to urge him along. Li Cheng left quickly, without even time to say another word.Fugui said somewhat apologetically, "This servant only heard Miss Xun say she wanted only the title of secondary consort and nothing else. After that, they went into the inner chamber, and this servant couldn't overhear what was said.""It's fine, I understand." Huiyin nodded.She treated Xun Rou the same as before, with no difference at all. A few days after the Mid-Autumn Festival, she received Mid-Autumn gifts sent from Jianye, with Prince Wei's being the most generous.He not only sent festival gifts but also gold and clothing. Huiyin had someone register and record everything.Prince Wei seemed to think highly of his nephew, and this time he even sent gifts for her—all top-grade kingfisher feather ornaments, pearls, gold, and jade. The prince's residence had dedicated craftsmen who made jewelry, so Huiyin took half of it and had them craft ornaments.These gold and jade items—when she was young, she had found them vulgar, but now that she was older, she liked them very much, finding a certain richness and elegance in them.After Li Cheng left, Xun Rou seemed to keep to herself as well, hardly even seeing Mrs. He anymore."Yun Hui, this is Miss Xun's monthly allowance, and this pair of earrings is a gift from me. Please deliver them for me. Also, autumn is coming soon. Xuzhou has four distinct seasons, and the needlework workshop is about to make clothes. In the next few days, someone from the workshop will come to see her." Huiyin wouldn't write to Li Cheng to ask about what happened that day, and Xun Rou certainly wouldn't tell her, so she sent Yun Hui to test the waters—especially since last time, Yun Hui's expression had been different when she mentioned Xun Rou.Yun Hui received Huiyin's instructions without a word and quickly went to Xun Rou's quarters.Xun Rou was practicing calligraphy at the time. Her handwriting was exceptionally good—she could even write with both hands simultaneously. She remembered that her cousin had once praised her calligraphy when he saw it.She looked up and saw Yun Hui enter, and a faint smile crossed her face."You've come. Did you want to see me make a fool of myself? Well, let me tell you, you won't get that pleasure."Yun Hui set down the tray with proper composure: "This servant has come on the orders of the Young Princess. These are your monthly allowance, and this pair of earrings is a gift from the Young Princess…"Xun Rou raised an eyebrow: "Are you trying to mock me for living under someone else's roof now, having to rely on that woman to give me my money?""Young Miss, you truly misunderstand me. You are my mistress; I am merely a servant. I only act according to the Young Princess's orders." Yun Hui's expression did not change in the slightest.Xun Rou laughed: "You needn't put on airs with me. Those little schemes of yours—I suspect only my cousin remains unaware of them. He is a man of deep loyalty and treats everyone around him with kindness. But if he ever learned of the things you've done, how would he see you then?"Yun Hui remained perfectly composed: "This servant does not understand what you mean.""You know very well." Xun Rou wanted to say it outright, but then she thought—she despised Lady Zheng too. Why should she help expose her schemes? So she let out a cold sneer and made no further move.Yun Hui finished her business and prepared to leave, her expression unchanged. But once she stepped outside, the corners of her lips curved upward.Soon it was September. The weather had turned slightly cool, and the climate was most pleasant. In Jizhou, it might have already been snowing by October, but here the sun shone brightly. The gardeners in the nursery had begun cultivating many new flowers. Huiyin strolled through the gardens with her maids and attendants. As the highest-ranking person in Xuzhou now, she naturally had no need to go out socializing.She had come to know nearly all of the several hundred people in the prince's household, was familiar with their duties, and could now assign tasks and direct operations normally."Nanny Nan, you are my wet nurse. You must not act the same way you did in the Zheng household. I don't fully trust the people around here." Huiyin cautioned.Nanny Nan nodded: "Yes, yes. In the past, this old servant had no wariness—I was used to the ways of the Zheng household. Now I should learn to share some of the Young Princess's burdens."In truth, with the master of the Prince Huaiyin's household away from home and everything entrusted to the mistress for management, Huiyin already had far more freedom than she ever did in the Eastern Palace.After the mistress and servant had walked some distance away, Nanny Nan asked: "I notice you seem to have stopped paying much attention to Miss Xun? Yesterday her maid went out, and you allowed her to pass.""Yes. She's already lost—what is there for me to say to her?" Huiyin had already guessed seven or eight parts of the truth.If Xun Rou had truly been selected as secondary consort, the Young Prince would not have failed to discuss it with her. He might not love her, but he respected her position as his principal wife—at least, that was how it appeared for now.Nanny Nan, however, said: "What if she's putting on an act? Building a visible path while pretending to be a carefree recluse, but secretly crossing the sea under cover of darkness?"Huiyin smiled: "What do I have to fear? If she became secondary consort, she'd be worse off than she is now." A young lady of the maternal family was a guest—a member of the Xun family—not easy to deal with. But if she truly became secondary consort, she would be legitimately under the Princess's authority.She was not Zheng Deyin, who couldn't even handle someone like Xun Rou, whom Li Cheng didn't even like.In short, Huiyin's current status was restricted, and she had not truly established herself, so naturally she had to endure. She had dealt with a venomous snake like Dong Yuniang in her previous life—how could she fear a Xun Rou?She simply needed to show Li Cheng that she could not act yet, and she was also waiting for an opportunity."Mother, wait a little longer. In time, everything will become clear.""Wait, wait for what?"Nanny Nan truly did not understand these matters. She had come all the way down from Jizhou, and she considered herself a woman of considerable skill, but often, in the presence of the princess, she felt her mind was not sharp enough.Huiyin smiled and shook her head. She went back and wrote another letter to Li Cheng, telling him about the flower beds in the garden, and mentioning that on the Double Ninth Festival, she had climbed high and, thinking of him in Huaisi, had made some flower cakes with chrysanthemums picked from the garden to send for his enjoyment. Knowing he did not drink alcohol while in the army, she did not send wine.When Li Cheng returned to his tent, he saw the flower cakes Huiyin had sent. They were translucent, not greasy, and tasted light and sweet.His life was actually quite content. His father and mother had only him as their son and doted on him excessively, yet from a young age, he had always felt a sense of precariousness, as if his days were numbered.Now there was someone who kept thinking of him. He did not say it aloud, but in his heart, he was very pleased. Especially since Lady Zheng also had a sense of propriety—she only acted coy and playful in bed, whispering all sorts of embarrassing words to him endlessly, but in daily life, she was very proper, and even her letters contained no love poems. Yet with just a few words, seeing chrysanthemums made her think of making him flower cakes—that counted as thoughtfulness.But what should he send back in return?Half a month later, Huiyin received a gilt bronze cloisonné jewelry box inlaid with gems and pearls, extremely exquisite. She was delighted—most girls loved such beautiful things—and she had not expected Li Cheng to send someone specially to deliver it to her.When Xun Rou came to pay her respects, she saw the dressing table nearly covered with jewelry, and the maid in charge of combing hair picking up a hairpin to try against her head."Cousin-in-law, today the Miao family's young lady sent me an invitation to attend a poetry gathering." Xun Rou's attitude appeared very humble.Huiyin smiled and said, "Go ahead. I'll have the servants prepare a carriage for you. Just be careful yourself."Xun Rou nodded. "Then I thank Cousin-in-law."With that, she supported herself on Meixiang's hand and went out. Huiyin watched her retreating figure and gave a cold snort—a jumping clown who did not know her place.Last time, Xun Rou had begged Li Cheng to let her stay at Prince Huaiyin's residence, to avoid being punished by Consort Dowager Wu upon her return. She said she would go back after the New Year, claiming she had truly done her best, and that it was not her fault she could not become a secondary consort, so Consort Dowager Wu would not punish her. After some thought, her cousin had agreed. But how could she truly leave? She was still scheming, first using outside matters to entangle Lady Zheng and make her lose face, and then she would step in when the crisis arose.Sure enough, after Xun Rou went out this time, Madam Miao came to call, saying that refugees were running rampant and asking how Prince Huaiyin's residence planned to handle the situation, and whether the local prominent families should help.Huiyin smiled and said, "Is this not a matter for the prefect and county magistrate? Why should we women be the ones to handle resettlement?"Madam Miao, who usually came to flatter Huiyin, could not help but speak frankly: "I am also thinking of your reputation. Prince Huaiyin has just arrived in Xuzhou, and this is the time to reassure the people. If you could take the lead, it would be good for both your reputation and the residence's.""You make a very valid point, but I am currently with child and afraid it would be inconvenient for me to exert myself. How about this—I'll have my cousin, Miss Xun, represent our household instead, and let the prominent families of Xuzhou see how capable she is. You may not know, but our old Consort Dowager has entrusted me and the young prince with finding her a fine husband." Huiyin said with a smile.Her health was good, and Li Cheng was not like that wicked Li Heng who had given her Cooling Medicine, so she was now three months pregnant and her pregnancy was fairly stable. Yesterday, she had already sent a letter to Li Cheng specifically, even mentioning in it that she was now with child and might not be able to look after Xun Rou.Upon hearing this, Madam Miao immediately offered her congratulations: "I had no idea the young princess was with child! Of course, of course—how could we trouble you? We'll handle it ourselves, just consider it as accumulating blessings for the young heir in your belly.""Very well, then on the day of your completion, I'll have Cousin Xun go in my place." Huiyin said with a smile.Madam Miao nodded eagerly, already thinking about what fine gifts she could gather from home to send over, hoping to secure the first incense offering at the young princess's residence.Naturally, since this idea had originated with Xun Rou, she went to inform Xun Rou of it as well.Xun Rou's heart tightened: "Are you saying my cousin-in-law is with child?"Madam Miao laughed: "Indeed! I must say, the young princess is truly blessed—she conceived just three months after marriage. But she's also thinking of you; she said that when the refugee settlement is successfully established, she'll have you go in her place."Xun Rou broke out in a cold sweat. These past days, besides visiting the Miao household, she had also contacted Consort Dowager Wu's old subordinates and carefully orchestrated a plan to incite the refugees to cause trouble and sabotage the settlement on its completion day—she had already paid out the money. She had previously worried that Lady Zheng wouldn't participate, so she deliberately had Madam Miao and others take the lead in planning, and once things were mostly arranged, she would let Lady Zheng take the credit.Now Lady Zheng was secretly pregnant and had actually arranged for her to go in her place! As soon as Madam Miao left, she called for Meixiang: "Take my letter and go out—tell our people to halt the plan."If she went herself, of course she couldn't allow anyone to cause a disturbance, or all the blame would fall on her.Meixiang immediately prepared to go out, but found she couldn't even leave the courtyard. She rushed back and said: "Miss, it's bad—the matron guarding the gate said the young princess has ordered that, since she's with child and fears troublemakers, no one is allowed to leave."Xun Rou nearly fainted on the spot. Lady Zheng truly was one step ahead.
Chapter 20
Rebirth of the Empress
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