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Finally, He Yu was sent out of the gates of Xuanping Prince's Mansion with a heart full of complaints.
Xiao Yao stood in place watching He Yu's figure. After taking a couple of steps, He Yu turned back to see Xiao Yao still standing at the door, and ran back, holding Xiao Yao's hand and saying, "How about I just don't go? I actually don't want to go."
"What's that about?" Xiao Yao laughed, pushing him to turn around. "You're a prince after all. Your good brother calls you out for drinks and you won't go? Be careful, others might think you're henpecked!"
"Henpecked or not, it doesn't matter," He Yu said nonchalantly. "That's even better; I can use that as an excuse to refuse all invitations!"
"What nonsense!" Xiao Yao was both amused and exasperated. Finally, seeing that He Yu was determined to play the fool, she could only put on a stern face and say, "If you want others to think you're henpecked, I certainly don't want them thinking I'm a shrew! Hurry up and go; it's not like we're parting for life or death. Why are you dragging this out? You're still a prince!"
After being scolded by Xiao Yao, He Yu had no choice but to leave, turning back three times as he walked away.
Xiao Yao watched as He Yu's figure gradually disappeared down the street, let out a long sigh, and turned to say, "Let's head back."
"Yes," Yun Zhu supported Xiao Yao as they walked.
After walking a few steps, Xiao Yao suddenly said, "Let's go check out the garden and take a look at East Back Courtyard. What do you think?"
Seeing that Xiao Yao was in good spirits, Yun Zhu naturally nodded in agreement and instructed Zhao Hezhong to light up the lamps in those areas to illuminate the path, so that the princess wouldn't trip; no one could afford that. Zhao Hezhong hurried off to carry out the task since the prince wasn't in the mansion. Now, Yun Zhu, this girl, was practically on equal footing with him. Moreover, since all matters of the inner courtyard had been entrusted to the princess by the prince, it meant that most affairs were now in Yun Zhu's hands.
The princess certainly wouldn't manage every detail; thus many decisions fell into Yun Zhu's hands, especially regarding the Central Courtyard and the back courtyard. The front courtyard mainly served for receiving guests, so it had always been under Zhao Hezhong, but most matters concerning the Central Courtyard and back courtyard were decided by Yun Zhu.
Pan Yueliang stood in a side room of the west back courtyard, watching as the lights of East Back Courtyard gradually lit up, followed by those in the garden connecting to the Central Courtyard. She asked, "Is today some special occasion?"
Her maidservant Wen Ning, who had just brought in dinner, replied irritably, "What special occasion? It's just our princess having a whim to stroll through the garden and wanting these lamps lit."
Hearing this from Wen Ning, Pan Yueliang smiled wryly as she leaned against the doorframe. "I can't compare; after all, she's the princess while I'm just a Consort."
Upon hearing this, Wen Ning shot a mocking glance at Pan Yueliang, scoffing inwardly. Wasn't she just a dancer sent over by the Eldest Prince, thinking she could climb higher? How naive! She thought about how both she and Yun Zhu were chosen for the mansion at the same time; now Yun Zhu served by the princess's side and was practically in charge of everything in the entire Xuanping Prince's Mansion, while she was merely assigned to serve a neglected dancer.
Thinking about this, Wen Ning felt a surge of indignation in her heart and said, "Hurry up and eat, or it will get cold. We don't have the ability to ask the head chef to prepare a separate meal for us!" After saying that, she didn't wait for Pan Yueliang to respond and left first.
Pan Yueliang looked at the few dishes on the table that were already lukewarm and smiled self-deprecatingly. Had she really reached the point where even the servants of the mansion looked down on her? But then again, when she paid her respects to the princess, didn't she refer to herself as a servant? If that's the case, what kind of master was she?
Pan Yueliang slowly walked to the table and took bites of the food, which tasted like chewing wax. She had no idea what she was eating. Originally, she thought that with Xuanping Wang's flirtatious nature and love for beautiful women, as long as she managed to enter Xuanping Prince's Mansion, she would surely be able to win the prince's favor. She was clear that for men, affection was merely a fleeting interest.
However, as long as she seized this opportunity to give birth to a child, regardless of whether it was a boy or girl, her position in this mansion would be secured.
She was well aware that as a woman of ill repute, it was already a stroke of luck for the prince to keep her around; how could she compete with the madams and princesses of the mansion?
With children come status; once she had a child, her treatment would not be too poor.
Her initial confidence was shattered when she realized that things were far from what she had imagined after entering the mansion. The prince hadn't even glanced at her; he simply tossed her into this western courtyard and never thought of her again. Not long after, another lady entered the mansion, also residing in the western courtyard. Although Cheng Yuezhu's background might not be significant in the eyes of royal family members, it was certainly better than Pan Yueliang's situation.
However, even so, the prince only provided good food and drink for this woman in the mansion.
At first, Pan Yueliang treated Cheng Yuezhu with utmost respect but gradually noticed that the prince's attitude towards this woman was exactly the same as his attitude towards her—he simply didn't care. Over time, they naturally began to look at each other with disdain; whenever they met in the garden of the courtyard, they would exchange sarcastic remarks.
Once they entered Xuanping Prince's Mansion, everyone shared one identity: they were all women of Xuanping Wang. When not favored, although their ranks differed, at their core they were all equal; none were nobler than the others.
The prince couldn't possibly be unaware of what was happening in the courtyard; he just allowed them to bicker with each other. As long as it didn't escalate to an unbearable level, he wouldn't intervene.
Just when they thought life would continue like this, unexpectedly a steward from beside the prince came to warn them not to quarrel anymore. If they were caught fighting again, both would be dismissed and expelled from the mansion.
Now Pan Yueliang and Cheng Yuezhu both ceased their thoughts of rivalry; after all, if they were dismissed, they might truly lose their lives outside.
Could it be that the prince intended to marry a princess? Pan Yueliang and Cheng Yuezhu simultaneously speculated.
Sure enough, a few days later, the imperial decree confirmed this point, but what followed was an immense surprise for them: the prince had married a merchant's daughter with no background. Although she had an older brother who was a Top Scholar, it seemed that future prospects would be quite difficult. It was likely that even the Top Scholar would have to rely on the prince if he truly wanted to achieve something in the officialdom of the capital.
How could such a woman attract the prince?
Both of them were puzzled, but no matter how they couldn't understand it, she was officially married, carried into the house on a grand sedan chair, and had performed the wedding rites.
Moreover, the prince genuinely adored her.
Thinking back to that day when she met the princess and did those things, Pan Yueliang wished she could find a hole to hide in.
Although there was still jealousy and anger in her heart, if she had to do it all over again, she truly wouldn't make such foolish mistakes that would lead to her current disdain from the prince.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yao was completely unaware of Pan Yueliang's inner thoughts. She was excitedly looking around the garden and said, "The garden at night is really so different from during the day!"
"Yes," Yun Zhu smiled and agreed, "These Night-Blooming Jasmines and that Night-Blooming Cereus were specially planted by the prince to look beautiful at night."
"Mm." Xiao Yao nodded, smiling as she looked at the blooming flowers, feeling that their fragrance was delightful.
Although the garden was lit up, it couldn't compare to modern electric streetlights in brightness. Watching the fireflies flit about in the garden, Xiao Yao felt a slight impulse to shed tears; she had spent enough time in concrete jungles and had long forgotten this joy of being close to nature.
Though this wasn't pure nature either, at least it was real flowers, plants, trees, and fireflies—something rarely seen in modern times.
After wandering around the garden for a while, thinking she might encounter some woman trying to trap her like in a TV drama made her a bit nervous. However, until Yun Zhu reminded her that the night breeze was cool and it was time to return, they were alone in the entire garden.
What a joke! She Xiao Yao was now Consort Xuanping and still the most favored princess of the prince. There were only two other women in the residence; if someone were to come out now, it would truly be courting disaster. Moreover, when Xiao Yao entered, Zhao Hezhong had already brought people to clear out the garden completely of any idle folks—how could there be anyone else?
She could only blame herself for watching too many brainless dramas; she couldn't fault others for that.
Returning to the Central Courtyard, Yun Zhu asked Xiao Yao what she wanted to eat for dinner. Xiao Yao thought for a moment and said, "How about some red rice porridge? Just a few side dishes will do; I don't have much of an appetite."
"Understood." Yun Zhu went to arrange the meal, while Xiao Yao took out the white ornament and started working on it again, as she had nothing else to do.
Yun Zhu sent Si Yun An to deliver the meal since boys were generally quicker on their feet. When she came back and saw her master fiddling with the button, she smiled and said, "I estimate that the Internal Affairs Office will distribute the fabric for autumn clothes in a few days. At that time, you can consider making a few new outfits."
"Internal Affairs Office?" Xiao Yao was taken aback and looked up. "Can this prince from another family also receive things from the Internal Affairs Office?"
"Generally speaking, no," Yun Zhu replied with a smile. "But our lord has been raised in the palace under the emperor's watchful eye, so he naturally enjoys this privilege alone. Other princes or marquises who inherit their titles or have military achievements do not have this benefit."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yao understood. She hadn't expected the emperor to go through such lengths for appearances. People in high positions truly worry about their reputations after they are gone. However, since there was this benefit available, why not take advantage of it? After all, items distributed by the Internal Affairs Office were surely palace tributes. While they might not be of exceptional quality, they would at least be decent.
The best items would certainly be reserved for the emperor first, followed by high-ranking consorts. Now that there was no Empress Dowager or Queen in the palace, it would naturally go down to the consorts and then to the princes. It seemed her family's prince would be last in line.
Thinking this way, Xiao Yao calmed down and said, "That's fine; we can see what materials we get when they are distributed. A couple of days ago, the prince was discussing making autumn and winter clothes with me. If possible, we can make a few more outfits then."
"Yes." Yun Zhu was pleased to see her master thinking of the prince.
After all, as long as the princess and prince were harmonious and affectionate, their lives as servants would be easier; otherwise, every day would be quite difficult.
Just after the banquet ended, He Yu stood at the entrance of a tavern with a few friends.
One of them patted He Yu on the shoulder and said, "You! Ever since you got married to the princess, you rarely come out! What? Are you afraid of your wife?"
"Of course," He Yu replied with a grin and a playful expression. "Newlyweds always..."
"We understand!" everyone chimed in unison. "Newlyweds..."
He Yu coughed twice and had no intention of dealing with this group of friends anymore. After bidding them farewell, he returned to the residence. Zhao Hezhong had been waiting at the gate and stepped forward as soon as he saw He Yu return, saying, "My lord."
"Mm, has the princess gone to sleep?" He Yu asked.
"Not yet!" Zhao Hezhong knew He Yu would ask this and quickly continued, "The princess must have slept well yesterday, so she got up late this morning and isn't sleepy yet."
Not sleepy? He Yu smiled slightly. Xiao Yao hadn't taken a nap at noon either. Usually, she would have a break during that time, so it was impossible for her not to be sleepy now.
Zhao Hezhong secretly observed He Yu's expression. Seeing him smile, he knew that what he said was indeed true. The princess was waiting for the prince to return at this time, which naturally made the prince happy. Although he verbally told the princess not to wait for him, as a man, how could he not hope that the princess would wait for him?
Noticing that He Yu's pace quickened, Zhao Hezhong also quickened his steps.
As they approached the Central Courtyard, He Yu caught sight of the faint light coming from the main house and felt as if his heart was about to soar. How long had he been looking forward to such a scene? He hurried into the house, where the servants inside hurriedly bowed. He Yu quickly walked past them.
Inside, the candlelight flickered. Xiao Yao was holding a yellow thread and was about to start weaving a pattern when she was suddenly pulled into a broad embrace. The person holding her still smelled of alcohol, and his voice rang in her ear, "Did I not say not to wait for me? If you're tired, just go to sleep. Why are you still up so late?"
"I can't sleep," Xiao Yao replied, putting down what she was holding and turning to look at He Yu. "I slept too much during the day, so I naturally can't sleep at night."
"Really?" He Yu clearly didn't believe her. With a mischievous smile, he leaned closer to Xiao Yao and whispered, "In the quiet of the long night, without your husband by your side, is it that you can't sleep?"
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