Shen Que had a strong constitution, and his whole body was like a warm stove. Nestling in his embrace, Gu Ningning felt so comfortable that she almost wanted to fall asleep.
Xiao Tao rubbed her hands together and said,
“This side of the estate is remote. With nothing to block the wind, the rooms are cold. If Madam could work hard to rise to Jieyu, living in the east wing would be much better.”
Gu Ningning responded with a nonchalant “Hmm,” thinking that next time she should find a modern original body.
At least modern houses didn’t leak wind!
The master’s rooms weren’t even warm, so it was even harder for the servants. She picked up a few hand warmers and gave them to Xiao Tao. Xiao Tao was so touched that her eyes filled with tears.
“Madam, you are really kind to your servant.”
Gu Ningning smiled. “You are good to me too.”
Although this maid wasn’t very clever, she had always been loyal to both the Original Owner and to Gu Ningning.
“I heard that Yi Qiu, the one beside Jieyu Zhou, recently angered Jieyu Zhou and has been punished to kneel outside for a long time in this bitter cold.”
Xiao Tao had been a little upset just now, but suddenly her tone turned resentful.
“But she deserved it. I heard from the little steward at Luoxue Courtyard that Yi Qiu spoke many ill words about Madam in front of Jieyu Zhou.”
Gu Ningning couldn’t help but chuckle at her swings between gloom and anger.
Xiao Tao was the maid the Original Owner had brought from the Prime Minister’s residence.
In the book, the difference between a legitimate and an illegitimate daughter wasn’t that significant, but the Original Owner had bad luck. Her mother, Consort Pei, had poisoned the Prime Minister’s wife to gain favor, causing the wife to become infertile and eventually beaten to death by the Prime Minister. Consequently, the Prime Minister’s residence had only one son and one legitimate daughter, and both the Prime Minister and his wife despised her deeply.
Later, Gu Qingcheng fled an arranged marriage, and the Prime Minister handed the Original Owner over to Shen Que to make amends, giving her only a bracelet and a maid.
He also delivered a lecture along the lines of: now that you’ve grown up, you must work hard.
The bracelet had already been given to Eunuch Chang, leaving only Xiao Tao.
Gu Ningning considered it. It wouldn’t matter if she died, but it would be bad if Xiao Tao were dragged down with her. She took Xiao Tao’s hand and asked,
“You’re fifteen now. Is there a young man you fancy?”
At the mention of a marriage gift, Xiao Tao’s face immediately turned red. She waved her hands repeatedly. “No need. I am happy to stay by Madam’s side.”
Xiao Tao already had an endearing round face, and the blush made her even cuter. Gu Ningning couldn’t help pinching her cheek and smiling,
“It’s natural to yearn for love, especially at your age. As long as you protect yourself, give it a try. If it doesn’t work out, you can change.”
Hearing Gu Ningning’s “earth-shattering” advice, Xiao Tao didn’t dare approach her for the next few days.
Gu Ningning wasn’t trying to truly change Xiao Tao’s mindset. Everyone had their own character, and forcing someone onto a path against their nature only caused suffering.
She mainly wanted to show Xiao Tao that other options existed. How Xiao Tao chose after gaining more experience was up to her—but at the very least, she had to ensure Xiao Tao’s safety before her own death.
After being confined repeatedly, Gu Ningning’s days consisted only of eating and sleeping. She had grown plump, with flesh on her face and waist.
Xiao Tao worried, “Madam, you’ve gained so much weight. You should lose some. What if Your Highness dislikes it?”
Gu Ningning didn’t care. “If he starts disliking me just because I gained a little weight, what will happen when I grow old?”
“If he truly likes you, he will like you no matter if you’re fat, old, or ugly. If he doesn’t, he’ll find fault eventually. Worrying won’t help.”
Anyway, this body wasn’t hers. She got to eat delicious food every day without gaining weight herself. Gu Ningning was living luxuriously.
Meiren Lin also thought of her constantly. Though Gu Ningning was confined, Meiren Lin, with her wealth, bribed the gate servant of Chaoyan Courtyard to deliver fruits, pastries, snacks, and even a roasted pig’s trotter every day.
To prevent boredom, Meiren Lin wrote letters to her, mostly complaining about Jieyu Zhou.
Meiren Lin lived next door to Jieyu Zhou. In the past, Jieyu Zhou often ran over to Zhaoyi Zhao’s place. Now, confined with nothing else to do, she troubled her neighbors, leaving Meiren Lin exasperated.
“Even though she’s confined, she sends Yi Qiu to Your Highness every day, sometimes making soup herself and sending gifts to beg you to lift her confinement.”
“But most of the soups and gifts were intercepted by her good friend Zhaoyi Zhao. That fool didn’t even realize it.”
“My spy says that ever since Jieyu Zhou was confined, she has said over twenty bad things about you every day.”
“Ningning, I’m so bored every day. The courtyard to my right is empty. Work hard to rise to Jieyu, move over here, keep me company, and help humble Jieyu Zhou’s arrogance.”
Gu Ningning found it amusing and always wrote back to comfort her.
Recently, Meiren Lin had indeed won over Secondary Consort Yun with money, gaining her favor. Just yesterday, she even sent some pastries, and Gu Ningning gave her advice on how to please Secondary Consort Yun, which Meiren Lin noted carefully.
In the blink of an eye, ten days passed.
Gu Ningning’s confinement was lifted on the Winter Solstice. Secondary Consort Yun excused her from morning salutations and arranged a banquet for everyone.
Shen Que would attend today. Due to his busy political affairs, he rarely appeared in the rear courtyard. Every house dressed extravagantly, hoping to catch his favor in one impressive display.
Even Meiren Lin brought clothes for Gu Ningning to help her choose. After examining them, Gu Ningning selected a goose-yellow padded coat with a light purple cloak.
Meiren Lin had lost weight from her quarrel with Jieyu Zhou, making her look especially cute in the outfit, like a fluffy little duckling.
Gu Ningning couldn’t resist poking the dimples on her cheeks. Meiren Lin looked plaintive and said,
“This morning, I ran into Jieyu Zhou. She was dressed like a fox spirit and, just after her confinement ended, deliberately had me pay respects. It was even more showy than Secondary Consort Yun.”
She continued, anger rising,
“She used to scold you as a fox spirit. Now I think she looks more like a fox spirit than you do!”
Gu Ningning smiled gently. “Secondary Consort Yun is the legitimate daughter of a high-ranking family. From childhood, she was taught how to behave as a Mistress of the Household. She wouldn’t bother with us concubines.”
“Jieyu Zhou is the illegitimate daughter of a minor official. Her harassing us shows her shallowness. Honestly, Zhaoyi Zhao has been using her. If she had any brains, she would have broken ties with Zhaoyi Zhao long ago.”
She raised her hand to adjust Meiren Lin’s collar. Meiren Lin pressed her lips together. “She hasn’t really acted against me, but living across from her, I see her flaunting herself every day—it’s annoying.”
“Besides… you argued with Your Highness, and that night he went to her. I always feel like he went to her to spite you.”
Gu Ningning listened and chuckled. According to the story, the male lead could only hold feelings for the female lead; at most, any other relationship was incidental.
The banquet was about to begin. Listening Rain Pavilion, owned by Secondary Consort Yun, was bustling. Everyone wanted to arrive early and show off in front of Shen Que.
Having been confined for several days, Gu Ningning felt surprisingly familiar with scheming among these women.
Just then, Zhaoyi Zhao and Jieyu Zhou entered the pavilion, chatting and laughing.
Gu Ningning finally understood why Meiren Lin had called Jieyu Zhou a “fox spirit.”
Jieyu Zhou wore a bright red thin dress that day. Her hair was adorned with a golden butterfly hairpin gifted by Shen Que, her ears with pearl earrings he had given, and her wrist with a jade bracelet from him.
She had put on makeup, with alluring expressions at the corners of her eyes and brows, twisting her waist slightly as she walked, practically broadcasting, “I am favored.”
As they passed Gu Ningning, Jieyu Zhou “happened” to say,
“When Your Highness summoned me to his chamber the other day, he always praised me and often remarked that some people hadn’t served well enough.”
She glanced deliberately at Gu Ningning, as if afraid she wouldn’t realize the comment was about her.
Gu Ningning, still eating cherries brought by Meiren Lin, casually replied,
“Your Highness said that about his sister? That must have been so upsetting for her.”