“I’ll accompany you into the palace.”

Princess Qinghua approached with her servants.

When the Princess traveled, her retinue was quite grand—several maids and several matrons, a mighty procession.

Yun Chu saw a familiar face among that group of people. It was Ding Dong.

Ding Dong stood at the forefront of the maids. It seemed she had already become a first-rank senior maid by Princess Qinghua’s side.

Princess Qinghua said a word to Yun Chu, then boarded her own carriage.

The carriage headed toward the imperial palace. The distance wasn’t far, and they arrived shortly. Because Yun Chu was pregnant, Chu Yi had specially requested an imperial decree allowing Yun Chu to ride in a sedan chair when entering the palace to pay respects, to avoid any accidents.

Yun Chu cherished her own body and naturally wouldn’t refuse.

Watching her get down from the carriage only to board a sedan chair, the corners of Princess Qinghua’s mouth couldn’t help but twitch.

She just couldn’t understand how her cold and aloof younger brother could dote on Yun Chu like this, not afraid of being laughed at by others.

The two children also sat with Yun Chu in the sedan chair. Soon they arrived at Changqiu Palace. Yun Chu led the children down and waited briefly for Princess Qinghua.

The group entered together.

“Yu ge’er, Changsheng, you two good children come here.” Consort Yin’s face was full of smiles. “Imperial Grandmother specially prepared birthday gifts for you. Come and see if you like them.”

Most of the gifts Consort Yin gave were precious items selected from her own storerooms. The two children didn’t know how valuable those gold, silver, and jade objects were. After looking at them briefly, they went off to play.

“Why didn’t you bring Shen ge’er into the palace as well?” Consort Yin asked with a smile. “Let Shen ge’er pick a few items too.”

“Him? All he knows is reading books. He’s truly becoming a bookworm.” Qinghua’s words were complaints, but actually boasting. “He’s afraid of being outperformed when he goes to the Imperial Academy after New Year’s, so he reads books until very late every night before sleeping.”

“He mustn’t ruin his eyes.” Consort Yin said with concern. “Last time the south sent tribute with some superior candles. I’ll ask the Emperor for some for Shen ge’er later.”

Qinghua expressed her thanks, then coughed. “Chu’er is pregnant, yet Mother Consort doesn’t show any concern for Chu’er.”

Yun Chu’s fingers paused.

She already knew what Qinghua was going to do.

But Consort Yin misunderstood, saying, “Nanny Guo, in my storeroom there’s ginseng, lingzhi mushrooms, and cordyceps. Select the finest quality and bring them all here.”

The corners of Qinghua’s mouth twitched.

Only after various medicinal materials were bestowed upon Yun Chu did she speak up. “Mother Consort, what I meant was that Chu’er is pregnant yet still has to serve Yi’er. Isn’t that too exhausting?”

Now Consort Yin understood.

As a prince, besides his primary consort, he should also have secondary consorts, concubines, and serving concubines. This was the proper establishment a prince should have.

After Chu Yi married, Consort Yin had selected several palace maids, preparing to bestow them at an appropriate opportunity. Wasn’t this opportunity presenting itself now?

“You’re right.” Consort Yin looked at Yun Chu with a smile. “I heard Yi’er has still been sleeping in your quarters recently. This won’t do. This pregnancy will produce the prince’s residence’s legitimate son. Everything must be handled with care. How about this—I’ll bestow four palace maids to you. From now on, they’ll attend to Yi’er’s daily needs.”

Qinghua smiled.

It’s said that when an elder bestows something, one dares not refuse. With Mother Consort bestowing people, she didn’t believe Yun Chu would dare refuse.

Yun Chu asked slowly, “Servants who attend also come in several types. May I ask which type of attendance Mother Consort refers to?”

Consort Yin’s face was full of smiles. “Of course, to have them become Yi’er’s concubines. Arranging four at once is perhaps too many. You see which one is suitable and elevate her status first.”

“This daughter-in-law dares to ask one more question.” Yun Chu continued. “Mother Consort wants them to become women of the prince’s residence’s inner quarters. Are the four of them willing?”

“Listen to what you’re saying. For a palace maid to personally attend a prince—that’s their great fortune.” Consort Yin took Yun Chu’s hand. “As for secondary consorts, I think you should choose them. How about it?”

As a mother-in-law, she believed she was already doing very well, giving Yun Chu the authority to select secondary consorts directly.

Looking at others, which other prince’s secondary consorts weren’t personally selected by their mother consort, considering family background, birth status, and temperament, never respecting the primary consort’s opinion?

Yun Chu lowered her eyes.

First Princess Qinghua interfered in these matters, followed immediately by her mother-in-law. Next might be the Empress, and finally perhaps even the Emperor would participate.

Chu Yi’s status meant he couldn’t escape these things.

For her to keep refusing wasn’t the best strategy.

She should think of a method to make these people retreat in the face of difficulty.

She didn’t need to think of what method.

Whoever stirred up trouble should handle it.

Yun Chu spoke up. “Then please have Mother Consort bring those palace maids in so this daughter-in-law can take a look.”

Princess Qinghua’s lips curved.

See? When Mother Consort bestowed people, Yun Chu didn’t dare refuse.

Indeed, it still required elders to properly discipline her.

Nanny Guo led four palace maids in from the entrance. Each one was attractive, at the most radiant years of womanhood.

Yun Chu looked at the four. “Even if the Prince only selects one of you to be a serving concubine, or doesn’t select any at all, you still must enter Prince Pingxi’s residence?”

The four palace maids simultaneously curtsied. “Being able to serve the Prince is this servant’s honor. We’re willing to follow the Princess Consort’s instructions.”

Yun Chu nodded. “Then shortly you’ll accompany me into the prince’s residence.”

“Since that’s the case,” Qinghua spoke leisurely, “Chu’er has already accepted these four. One more wouldn’t be too many, would it?”

Yun Chu smiled slightly. “Is Second Sister thinking of bestowing someone?”

Qinghua nodded gracefully. “Ding Dong is Nanny Er’s daughter and has the bond of serving Yi’er since childhood. She’ll serve even more devotedly. What do you say, Mother Consort?”

Consort Yin felt this was somewhat improper.

For an elder sister to place someone in her younger brother’s quarters—no matter how you put it, it didn’t sound good.

Yun Chu nodded directly. “If Second Sister has other people to bestow, bestow them all this time. I’ll accept them all.”

Qinghua smiled. In front of elders, Yun Chu became so much easier to handle.

She took a sip of tea. “Five serving concubines are enough. The prince’s residence’s inner quarters are too empty. You must put more effort into selecting secondary and tertiary consorts.”

Consort Yin glared at Qinghua, signaling her not to go too far.

After that, Yun Chu calmly drank tea. After having lunch, she took the children and the five bestowed women back to the prince’s residence.

Ding Dong stood among the five. Her appearance wasn’t the most outstanding, but her face showed the most confidence.

She was glad she had taken the correct path. Through Princess Qinghua’s help, in Consort Yin’s name, she had been bestowed to the Prince. This way, the Princess Consort couldn’t refuse.

And with her previous connection to the Prince, she would surely win the Prince’s favor earlier than these four palace maids.

Once she had established a firm foothold in the prince’s residence, once she became the Prince’s beloved serving concubine, she would definitely persuade the Prince to bring her mother back to the capital.

Yun Chu sat in the carriage with the two children. Chu Hongyu grumbled, “I hate Father the most.”

Yun Chu asked, “Why?”

The little one pressed his lips together. “Father won’t buy me crickets.”

Yun Chu laughed. “Where would there be crickets in the dead of winter? When it gets warm, Mother will take you to buy some.”

After getting off the carriage and returning to the courtyard, Chu Changsheng secretly pulled his brother aside to ask, “Brother surely doesn’t hate Father because of crickets. Why then?”

“Changsheng, remember this—if Father has younger brothers or sisters with other women, we’ll never acknowledge Father again.” Chu Hongyu said through gritted teeth. “If he dares treat Mother badly, we won’t provide for him in his old age.”

Changsheng nodded. “I’ll listen to Brother.”

When Chu Yi returned to the residence, he felt the two children’s gazes at him carried daggers.