When winter arrived, the capital was always snowing.

Yun Chu curled up in her room, eating the sour dates sent by Lin Shi, drinking the bird’s nest sent by Consort Yin, and felt exceptionally comfortable.

At noon, Changsheng finished his lessons and brought Xie Xian over to talk.

Xie Xian held a jar for Yun Chu: “Princess Consort, this is pickled vegetables my mother made. When you have no appetite, eat a little—it’s especially good for stimulating the appetite.”

After becoming pregnant, Yun Chu did indeed enjoy eating sour foods.

She had Tingxue take out a little. After tasting a bite, it was sour, crisp, and refreshing—even better than what could be bought on the street.

Xie Xian smiled with pursed lips: “There’s more at home. If the Princess Consort likes it, I…”

“When this jar is finished, I’ll have someone go to your home to get more.” Yun Chu wasn’t polite. If she were polite, Concubine Jiang would think she disdained it.

After the two girls finished their meal, they went to paint together.

After Yun Chu woke from her afternoon nap, only then did Qiutong come in and say: “After the Crown Princess returned to the palace, she arranged for her maternal family to make a trip to the Yin family.”

The corners of Yun Chu’s lips curved into a cold smile.

To drag Prince Pingxi’s manor into the game, the Empress was going to make a move against the Yin family, forcing Chu Yi to take a stance.

Originally, she and Chu Yi were just standing by with folded arms. Since the Empress insisted on implicating the Yin family, then she shouldn’t blame her for taking action.

Yun Chu ate a piece of pastry and drank a cup of tea before leisurely saying: “That matter about the Gongsun family—it’s time for it to spread.”

Chu Yi entered from the doorway and happened to hear her say this. He gathered her into his embrace and said: “You focus on nurturing the pregnancy. You don’t need to worry about this.”

“Alright, then I won’t worry about it.”

Since Yun Chu said she wouldn’t worry, she truly stopped worrying.

After Chu Yi watched her fall asleep, he went to the study to handle matters.

Now the Crown Prince was supervising the state, Prince Gongxi controlled the Ministry of Finance, and the various social circles in the marketplace were also within Prince Gongxi’s sphere of influence.

The man’s well-defined fingers tapped on the desk as he said coldly: “Buy off a few people from the various social circles and spread the matter about Gongsun Ning from the marketplace.”

The Empress wanted to drag him in, forming a three-way power struggle. He would instead make the Empress and Chu Mo become fire and water, fighting to the death.

Chengxu received the order: “Yes, Your Highness!”

“You don’t need to handle this small matter. Have Cheng Qi do it.” Chu Yi looked at him. “If there’s anything you need my help with regarding the wedding, just speak up.”

Chengxu’s dark face reddened: “My father has arranged everything. Your Highness just needs to wait to drink the celebratory wine.”

That very evening, the teahouses in the capital began spreading stories about the Gongsun family.

The capital never lacked fresh gossip, but gossip about prominent families was still quite difficult to reach the common people’s ears. Everyone discussed it over tea and meals.

“Have you heard? The eldest son of the Gongsun family, tsk tsk…”

“Which Gongsun family? What did he do?”

“The Empress’s maternal family, the current National Uncle, Gongsun Ning! Reportedly, he most loves married women and has forcibly taken many married women.”

“Good heavens, such a thing happened? Whose wife was taken?”

“How would I know? But it’s pretty much confirmed. I have to say, this Gongsun Ning is truly scum.”

“Relying on being the National Uncle, he forces his subordinate officials to offer up their wives. Just ask—who else could do such a thing?”

“When the Crown Prince escorted the Grand Empress Dowager’s funeral, didn’t he also bring back a palace maid from the imperial tomb to dote on? They’re all cut from the same cloth.”

“…”

The streets of the capital were in an uproar with the gossip, which naturally soon reached the palace.

“Crash!”

The Empress was so angry she smashed a set of finest official kiln tea ware.

“That fool Gongsun Ning!” She was so angry her brain ached. “How did elder brother raise such a bastard? The Gongsun family’s hundred-year reputation has been completely destroyed by this cur! And it’s even implicated my reputation and the Crown Prince’s!”

Nanny Yin stood bent at the side and said: “This old servant had people investigate. This matter first spread from the gambling houses. As this old servant knows, the capital’s gambling houses are currently Prince Gongxi’s territory.”

The Empress’s brows darkened.

Chu Mo’s firepower was all concentrated on the Eastern Palace.

First, he made the power to manage the inner palace, which should belong to the nation’s mother, fall into Consort Hui’s hands.

Now he was making a move against the Gongsun clan, cutting away her backing.

Next, would he make a move against the Crown Prince?

Originally, she could have launched a strong counterattack.

But there was Duke’s Wife Li Jingshu lurking in the shadows.

She feared that after putting all her energy into dealing with Chu Mo, she would be bitten off a large chunk of flesh by Li Jingshu.

This was why she was so eager to get Chu Yi into the game.

If Chu Yi shared the burden, why would she be so passive?

“We must eliminate Li Jingshu.” The Empress coldly stroked her long, pointed nails. “With the title of Duke’s Wife, she can always enter and exit the palace freely. Since that’s the case…”

Nanny Yin raised her head: “Your Majesty, please give your orders.”

“We’ve entered the twelfth month. The Laba Festival should be held.” The Empress said, “Personally oversee the preparations for the banquet. There must not be a single mistake.”

The Laba Festival was a very important holiday among the common people. The palace generally just held a small palace banquet to celebrate briefly.

Whether held large or small, as a daughter-in-law of the imperial family, Yun Chu had to attend the banquet.

The child in her belly was exactly three months along. Her pregnancy symptoms had gradually disappeared. Now she could eat and sleep well, so traveling posed no difficulty.

But Chu Yi still didn’t dare be careless. He carried Yun Chu down from the carriage and specially arranged for a sedan chair to carry Yun Chu from the palace gate to the great hall where the banquet was held.

The family of four soon arrived at the location. Quite a few guests had already arrived.

In a place with many people, Yun Chu didn’t let Chu Yi support her, to avoid being laughed at.

“Third Sister-in-law has arrived.” The Crown Princess said with a beaming smile. “We haven’t seen each other for a few days. Third Sister-in-law seems to have gained some weight.”

Prince Gongxi’s consort followed up: “I heard Third Brother especially dotes on Third Sister-in-law. Whatever Third Sister-in-law wants to eat, Third Brother personally rides out to buy it. When the heart is at ease, naturally the body gains weight.”

Yun Chu smiled and said: “He’s idle at home and has time to do these things.”

Prince Gongxi’s consort felt somewhat envious.

In the past when her husband was idle at home, he never had time to go buy food and drink for her. Now that he was even busier, it was even more impossible.

While several people were chatting, Yun Chu raised her head and saw the Duke’s Wife walking over together with the Emperor and Empress.

After not seeing her for over half a year, the Duke’s Wife seemed even younger than before, her brows and eyes full of triumphant spring breeze.

In contrast, the Empress’s face was full of worry, making her look several years older than the Duke’s Wife.

Everyone paid respects to the Emperor and Empress together, then took their seats.

The Empress sat beside the Emperor, while the Duke’s Wife sat in a position below.

Many noblewomen at the banquet couldn’t help but mutter.

“These past six months, the Duke’s Wife seems to frequently enter and exit the palace, and is especially favored before His Majesty.”

“If His Majesty values Duke’s Manor, he should have made the Heir apparent into the Duke long ago. Why does he keep delaying?”

“If His Majesty doesn’t value Duke’s Manor, he shouldn’t give the Duke’s Wife such honor. Who knows what he’s really thinking.”

Everyone knew that after the original Duke died, the illegitimate sons in the manor killed each other—some died, some went mad, and the position of Duke’s Heir was left vacant.

After many years, the Duke’s Wife selected a child from a collateral branch and requested he be made Duke’s Manor Heir. The person everyone now called Duke was actually still just an heir and hadn’t formally inherited the title.

Yun Chu could guess some of the reasons.

If the heir inherited the Duke’s title, there would be a new Duke’s Wife. In that case, palace banquets would have nothing to do with the current Duke’s Wife.

Unable to enter the palace meant unable to see His Majesty.

Would Li Jingshu allow such a thing to happen?