Sunlight streamed through the window lattice.

Only then did Yun Chu awaken, unaware of how late she had slept.

She sat up, draped her outer garments over herself, and after washing up, went to the outer chamber for breakfast. There she found Meng Shen sitting and reading.

Luwei kept her head lowered as she said, “Young Master Meng has been here for more than half a shichen. He said he wanted to pay his respects to the Princess Consort.”

Seeing Yun Chu emerge, Meng Shen set down his book and immediately stood up. “Greetings to my maternal aunt.”

Yun Chu sat down in her seat. “Shen-geer, for you to come at this hour, is there something you need?”

“I heard about some of what my mother did yesterday.” Meng Shen’s face was full of remorse. “My mother sometimes acts without proper measure or boundaries. She has affected Uncle and Aunt, preventing Aunt from peacefully nurturing the pregnancy. It’s all my mother’s fault. I’m here to apologize to Aunt on my mother’s behalf. Starting today, my mother and I will move into Changqiu Palace. After my mother leaves the capital, I’ll move back to Uncle’s residence. I ask for Aunt’s permission.”

After his mother had caused such a major incident, he felt he shouldn’t continue living at his uncle’s residence.

But he also worried that if he didn’t stay here, his maternal grandmother would think his aunt had mistreated him, or outsiders would believe the two families were at odds.

So he could only wait until his mother left the capital before moving back.

He would find ways to make amends for his mother’s mistakes.

“Adult matters have nothing to do with you as a child.” Yun Chu smiled as she spoke. “Stay here with peace of mind.”

When she and Chu Yi had spoken those words, it was merely to keep Princess Qinghua in check. How could they possibly drive away an eight-year-old child?

If this child were an unruly troublemaker, then driving him away would be one thing.

But Shen-geer was obedient and sensible, and he had a heavy mind. If he were driven away by his own uncle and aunt, he would probably carry that knot in his heart for life.

After much deliberation, Meng Shen ultimately stayed at the Prince’s residence.

Princess Qinghua, on the other hand, took the people serving her, along with Ding Dong who had just been retrieved from the military camp, and moved into Changqiu Palace.

Imperial Consort Yin said with lingering trepidation, “Yi’er is different from other people. In the future, you mustn’t do such things again.”

Princess Qinghua had complained to Imperial Consort Yin at length, but upon hearing these words, couldn’t help but respond angrily, “It’s all because Yun Chu whispered in his ear. I truly don’t understand how a great family like the Yun clan could raise such a narrow-minded woman!”

“What does this have to do with Chu’er?” Imperial Consort Yin frowned. “Before Chu’er entered the family, Yi’er was already unwilling to take a wife. His rear courtyard was completely empty. I thought that after having Chu’er, Yi’er would be willing to accept secondary consorts and concubines. I never expected he’d still be the same.”

Ding Dong, standing behind Princess Qinghua, wore a bitter smile.

She had previously also thought the Prince didn’t like women, so she agreed when her mother found her a marriage match.

Later, when she heard the Prince had married, she thought that having tasted intimacy, the Prince would surely want to sample other flavors, so she eagerly entered the Prince’s residence.

But things didn’t go as she wished.

She had nearly become the wife of one of those rough old men in the military.

Those men were all barrel-chested and thick-armed, crude and vulgar, with frightening appearances. If she had to wake up every day to such a face, she would die of fright.

Moreover, after marrying, she would have to bear children, serve her mother-in-law, and do rough chores like washing clothes and cooking every day. Just thinking about such a life made her want to collapse.

Back when her mother was the chief nanny of the Prince’s residence, her daily life had been more comfortable than that of young ladies from ordinary families. Why should she marry a commoner and suffer?

She didn’t know what path her future would take. She could only follow the Princess to Pingliang Prefecture for now…

In the blink of an eye, it was New Year’s Eve.

Every year on this night, the most grand palace banquet of the entire year was held. Officials of fifth rank and above, along with their family members, had to attend to celebrate the New Year’s Eve together and welcome the new year.

Yun Chu was already four months pregnant. Wearing loose-fitting garments that concealed her abdomen, at first glance one couldn’t tell she was with child at all.

However, she walked very carefully, and experienced women could tell she was pregnant.

Chu Yi carefully supported Yun Chu as the two walked into the great hall. The assembled crowd inside immediately turned their gazes toward their family.

Then came rustling sounds of discussion.

“Have you heard? Imperial Consort Yin bestowed women upon Prince Pingxi, and they were all sent to the military camp.”

“Is Prince Pingxi even a man? He actually sent away the women who came to his hands. I suspect it was Princess Consort Pingxi’s doing.”

“Ever since Princess Consort Pingxi entered the family, the residence’s wet nurse was driven away. Now driving away a few concubines—what’s so strange about that?”

“Does Prince Pingxi dote on his Princess Consort that much?”

“You need only look at what kind of status the Yun family has—the Great General and Grand Marshal. You won’t find a second such family in all of Great Jin.”

“So is it possible that Prince Pingxi might also ascend to that position…”

“Prince Pingxi holds no court position. He hasn’t attended court for over half a year. It doesn’t seem like he has ambitions to seize power.”

“…”

The crowd only dared to discuss in low voices. When the four members of the Prince Pingxi residence entered, these discussions abruptly ceased.

“Mother, be careful.” Chu Hongyu placed a cushion behind Yun Chu. “Sit down slowly. Tell me what you want to eat, and I’ll get it for Mother.”

Chu Changsheng had already brought over some fruit for Yun Chu to eat.

Chu Yi sat beside the mother and two sons, his gaze falling on the three of them, his eyes filled with gentle tranquility.

This scene was observed by the former Duke’s wife, now Lady Jin.

After the Duke’s residence met with misfortune and lost its noble title, she found it difficult to enter the palace. The Emperor then granted her the title of a second-rank lady with the designation Jin.

This was why she could appear at today’s New Year’s Eve banquet.

She watched Yun Chu and Chu Yi showing such affection, with children gathered around them, and another biological child in her belly—what an enviable scene.

This was the simplest happiness she had hoped for, yet it would forever remain beyond her reach.

The crowd soon turned their discussion to Li Jingshu.

“I don’t understand why His Majesty granted her the title of second-rank lady. What has she done to deserve such an honor?”

“When Princess Consort Pingxi first established the Charity Orphanage, she only received a fifth-rank Commendable Lady title.”

“Perhaps His Majesty is mindful of the old Duke’s meritorious service.”

“But she didn’t save His Majesty’s life or anything. Why would he still remember her after all this time?”

“If you can’t figure it out, don’t think about it…”

Hearing these remarks, the Empress’s face turned iron-blue.

After so many years in the rear palace, she had long cultivated the ability to keep her emotions from showing on her face, yet now she simply couldn’t control herself.

She had thought that with the Duke’s residence gone, the connection between that old wretch Li Jingshu and the Emperor would be severed. She never imagined the Emperor would actually grant Li Jingshu the title of second-rank lady.

She was probably the most frustrated and pathetic empress in all of history.

The Empress took a deep breath and forced a smile onto her face with difficulty. “Lady Jin’s natal family should have several nieces of marriageable age, correct? His Majesty just mentioned the matter of selecting candidates next spring. Why not select a few young ladies from the Li family to enter the palace?”

Li Jingshu’s face darkened.

If her nieces became imperial consorts, then the possibility of her and the Emperor being together openly would become even more impossible.

The Empress was trying to cut off all her paths.

She forced a smile. “If His Majesty takes a liking to them, that would be their good fortune. It’s entirely up to the Empress to decide.”