Changqiu Palace.
Spring flowers bloomed in full glory as palace servants bustled about in orderly fashion.
Consort Yin had been waiting in the hall. Seeing Chu Yi and Yun Chu enter with the two children, her face immediately broke into a smile.
“This daughter-in-law pays respects to Mother Consort.” Yun Chu curtsied and presented a cup of tea. “Mother Consort, please drink tea.”
Consort Yin took the teacup and drank, then removed a green jade bracelet, added a large red envelope, and placed them both in Yun Chu’s hands.
Yun Chu then offered tea to Princess Qinghua sitting to the side. “Second Sister, please drink tea.”
Princess Qinghua picked up the teacup, lifted the lid to blow away the tea leaves, then raised her head. “I’ll be departing for Pingliang Prefecture tomorrow morning. There are some things I must say now, otherwise opportunities will be scarce in the future. Previously, when Yi’er was alone, everything was simple, but now that he has a Princess Consort, as the mistress managing the Prince’s residence, you should help oversee many matters. For instance, the two side consort positions remain vacant. You…”
“Why speak of such things!” Consort Yin interrupted Princess Qinghua. “It’s only the first day after the wedding. This is not appropriate to discuss.”
Princess Qinghua frowned. “I’m about to leave the capital—I can only say this now.”
“I hadn’t noticed before that Second Sister was so fond of meddling in my affairs,” Chu Yi said with a low laugh. “Shen’er will soon attend the Imperial Academy. Mother Consort mentioned that you wish for Shen’er to live at the Prince’s residence?”
Princess Qinghua’s attention was diverted. She nodded. “This September, Shen’er will formally enter the Imperial Academy. Naturally, he can only stay at his maternal uncle’s home.”
Chu Yi turned to look at Yun Chu. “Chu’er, what do you think?”
Princess Qinghua was incredulous. “That’s your Prince’s residence—you’re the one who decides. Yet you’re asking others… Furthermore, from birth until now, Shen’er has never asked you, his uncle, for anything. Is this how you act as an uncle?”
“Chu’er is not ‘others.'” Chu Yi enunciated each word. “Second Sister, if you’re clever, you should treat Chu’er better now. Because regardless of whether Shen’er ultimately moves into the Prince’s residence, the one who loses out will only be you.”
Princess Qinghua’s face nearly cracked.
If Shen’er moved into the Prince’s residence, he would be under Yun Chu’s care. For an adult to deal with a six or seven-year-old child would be far too easy.
If Shen’er couldn’t live at Prince Pingxi’s residence, they’d have to rent a courtyard in the capital, which would be far less convenient than the Prince’s residence no matter what.
Of course, he could also stay in Consort Yin’s Changqiu Palace, but that would certainly invite bullying from those arrogant princes in the palace.
How could she bear to let her son suffer?
Thinking of this, Princess Qinghua took a deep breath, picked up the tea Yun Chu had offered, and finally drank a sip.
She took out the greeting gift she’d prepared long ago and handed it to Yun Chu. “When September comes this year, I’ll bring Shen’er to pay respects to you as his maternal aunt.”
“Thank you, Second Sister.” Yun Chu’s face remained wreathed in smiles. “Among the Four Gentlemen—plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum—which does Shen’er prefer? I’ll prepare his favorite courtyard in advance.”
Princess Qinghua paused before saying, “He likes orchids. I trouble younger sister-in-law with this.”
Yun Chu said amiably, “I couldn’t be more delighted to have Shen’er come. How could it be any trouble?”
A smile played across Chu Yi’s lips.
Trying to reason with Second Sister would get nowhere. Only by taking hold of the person Second Sister cared about most would she naturally refrain from causing trouble.
Princess Qinghua had indeed been seized by her weak point.
Though she found Yun Chu disagreeable from every angle, matters had reached this point. So be it—she was too lazy to say more.
“Seeing you all so harmonious puts my mind at ease.” Consort Yin’s face was full of smiles. “Nanny Guo.”
Nanny Guo was Consort Yin’s most trusted loyal servant. Standing behind Consort Yin, she withdrew a box from her sleeve.
Consort Yin took the box and held it before Yun Chu, her face wreathed in smiles. “Come, take this.”
Yun Chu looked at the pill, finding it somehow familiar. “This… this is?”
“It’s divine medicine I purchased from Doctor Wu, a disciple of Divine Physician Si.” Consort Yin took Yun Chu’s hand. “Take it, and within three months you’ll certainly conceive.”
Yun Chu: “…”
Wu Yun had offered her this once before. She had refused.
She hadn’t expected it to be presented to her again through another avenue.
She stepped back, avoiding Consort Yin’s hand. “Thank you, Mother Consort, but I already have children—Yu’er and Changsheng.”
“Every woman wants children of her own. This is our right as women.” Consort Yin pulled her closer. “I spent five thousand taels of silver to obtain this medicine. Don’t disappoint my good intentions—take it.”
“Five thousand taels!” Princess Qinghua exclaimed. “Now I understand why Doctor Wu wouldn’t see me—because I didn’t offer silver. I understand now.”
Yun Chu held the tiny pill and said earnestly, “Yu’er and Changsheng are my biological children. Having them is enough for this lifetime.”
Consort Yin could see it—Yun Chu wasn’t speaking falsely but truly believed this. She genuinely intended to regard both children as her own flesh and blood.
“Then you must keep your word,” Princess Qinghua said. “What if you conceive in the future?”
Taking this divine medicine would result in pregnancy within three months.
But even without the medicine, a normal woman would certainly become pregnant within three to five years.
“If it happens, that’s fate.” Yun Chu raised her eyes. “If a child chooses me as their mother, I won’t abandon them either.”
The way Consort Yin looked at Yun Chu changed.
She began to understand why Yi’er had chosen Yun Chu as his Princess Consort, and also understood why both children were particularly fond of Yun Chu.
Yun Chu wouldn’t actively seek out a child.
But if a child came, she also wouldn’t abandon it out of fear of others’ suspicions.
This was an open and forthright woman.
“Chu’er.” Consort Yin called out affectionately. “I won’t give you this pill. That you and Yi’er are well together is better than anything.”
Yun Chu knew that Consort Yin had truly accepted her.
She curtsied. “Thank you, Mother Consort.”
Consort Yin continued, “Let Yu’er and Changsheng stay in my palace these few days to keep me company and relieve my boredom.”
Chu Hongyu pouted. He and Mother had been separated for over a month. They’d finally been able to be together openly every day.
“The Western Regions have sent tribute—a batch of fresh novelties.” Consort Yin said with a smile. “They’ll be delivered to the palace tomorrow afternoon. If you’re here, you can be first to select. If you come late, all the good things will be gone.”
The little one’s eyes immediately lit up. “Then my sister and I will stay in the palace to keep Imperial Grandmother company!”
Consort Yin waved her hand, signaling Chu Yi to quickly take his wife and leave before the child changed his mind and became difficult to appease.
Chu Yi couldn’t be more pleased to have both children stay at the palace. Otherwise, if they occupied his sleeping quarters tonight, where would he sleep?
He immediately pulled Yun Chu away from Changqiu Palace.
Chu Yi had taken three days of marriage leave. Bringing Yun Chu directly back to the Prince’s residence, he intended to spend every moment of these three days with Yun Chu.
The two had just entered the main gate of the Prince’s residence when Tingxue stepped forward. “Princess Consort, Concubine Jiang has come. She says that when the Princess Consort has finished her business, she requests an audience.”
Yun Chu frowned.
Concubine Jiang wasn’t someone who lacked propriety. If it weren’t an important matter, she would never seek an audience on the very first day after a wedding.