Chapter 21: Leaving the Eastern Palace

The news that the Crown Prince was going to the southern estate, accompanied by Lady Shen, suddenly stirred up a wave of unrest.

Meanwhile, the Chun Ya Courtyard had momentarily returned to calm.

Gu Tan lay on the soft couch, her hand resting on her still-flat belly, propping up her chin with one hand. The air of despondency that had clung to her was gone; now, her entire demeanor was sharp and resolute once more.

“Lady Shen is certainly keeping close,” Gu Tan said with a cold smile. “The Crown Prince is protecting her thoroughly. I wonder what kind of potion that enchantress must have given him.”

Below, Zhu Lian, kneeling and holding the sand hammer as she massaged Gu Tan’s legs, paused and pursed her lips. “No matter what, she’s merely a concubine. Even if the sky fell, she would still be a concubine.”

“But Your Highness must not move against Lady Shen anymore,” Zhu Lian earnestly advised. She had finally grasped the situation after several attempts, seeing that Gu Tan had gained no advantage, while Lady Shen’s favor with the Crown Prince only increased.

“What do I have to fear? Lady Shen is nothing,” Gu Tan said, her voice thick with lingering resentment.

“Your Highness, if you want to deal with Lady Shen, there will be plenty of chances in the future. Think of these recent incidents—from Lady Wang to Lady Shen, and now even involving the Crown Prince. In the end, both young masters were sent to the inner quarters.”

Zhu Lian spoke as she reflected on how the inner quarters ultimately benefited, while the Crown Princess did nothing but ended up losing the two children born to Lady Gu.

“Your Highness must keep calm. Lady Shen is just a concubine. Apart from her looks, what else does she have? How long can she keep the Crown Prince’s favor? He’s still in the honeymoon phase. If we move against her now, it would be like opposing the Crown Prince himself.”

Everyone knew that once beauty faded, affection would wane.

Zhu Lian frowned. “Now that the two young masters are in the inner quarters, their mother is not there. Moreover, the Crown Prince has decreed they are not allowed to return, even during the New Year.”

Mentioning the two children made Gu Tan’s heart ache. Emotions welled up and her eyes reddened. “She guards them everywhere. As their mother, I can’t even see them once.”

“But it can’t all be blamed on the inner quarters. With the Crown Prince’s orders, no one dares disobey.”

Zhu Lian rose and placed her hands gently on Gu Tan’s shoulders, softly rubbing them. Gu Tan closed her eyes and restrained her feelings.

“Your Highness only needs to take good care of yourself and the child in your womb. Let the others make their fuss.”

Gu Tan nodded, but then suddenly opened her eyes and grasped Zhu Lian’s hand. “But Lady Shen is so favored, serving the Crown Prince daily. You don’t think she might be pregnant, do you? I heard after their nights together, the Crown Prince didn’t give her any medicine.”

Gu Tan’s urgent voice was filled with worry. Zhu Lian patted her shoulder reassuringly.

“Your Highness, don’t worry. Even if a concubine becomes pregnant, she cannot keep the child. Besides, she must even be able to carry the pregnancy to term. And if she does, her low status means she cannot raise the child herself.”

“The lady in the inner quarters has long yearned for children. If a concubine gives birth, the child will be handed to her. Do you think she would keep the birth mother around?”

But the more Zhu Lian spoke, the graver Gu Tan’s expression grew. “But if the child is registered in the inner quarters under the legitimate mother’s name, and is recorded in the Jade Register, then it becomes a legitimate son. Our Huai brother would be ranked beneath that child.”

“That’s quite far ahead to consider. If news ever comes, they will ensure she cannot carry the child to term.”

Zhu Lian’s smile was faint and not reflected in her eyes. She thought to herself that a single dose of medicine would surely guarantee a miscarriage.

Compared to the turmoil in Chun Ya Courtyard, Huai An Courtyard was much more serene.

Zuo Li, dressed in plain clothes, stood before a statue of Guanyin, holding a slender sandalwood incense stick. Her eyes fixed on the jade Guanyin, then she lowered her head, gently swaying the incense until it burned down to glowing embers.

Respectfully, she placed the incense into the burner.

The warm curtain of the Buddhist hall was lifted as Yu Lan entered quietly, reporting in a low voice, “The Second Miss is fussing over her food again.”

At the words, Zuo Li paused briefly in her movements before regaining composure. She knelt on the meditation cushion, clasped her hands, raised them above her head, and then opened her palms, bowing three times with practiced grace.

“Consort is at it again. Now she’s feeling confident after all the back and forth. She wants to see the two young masters, but I’ve blocked her each time,” Yu Lan said, handing Zuo Li a damp cloth which she used to wipe her hands.

“Let her fuss as she pleases. After all, she’s carrying a child. If she insists on seeing the children again, don’t stop her. She’s their birth mother. If word gets out, I’ll be the villain,” Zuo Li said as she turned and entered the inner room. Half-sitting on the kang, she picked up an embroidery hoop from the basket. Two little calves were stitched there with lifelike detail.

Such tender maternal affection.

It was a gift sent by Gu Tan.

“Look at her. I’ve only been away for two days, and she can’t keep her temper in check.”

Zuo Li tossed the embroidery aside and leaned against the table, gently rubbing her brow. “People can plan endlessly, but they can’t outwit fate.”

Who would have thought Gu Tan got pregnant at such a critical moment?

It was fate.

“Tell the kitchen to increase the meals for Consort. Even if they can’t match what I receive, at least it will be more than before. When she was eating less, prepare more appetizing side dishes to send over.”

Zuo Li gave the order calmly, then lowered her head to look at the sutra in her hands.

“That’s far too indulgent. She’s spoiled herself beyond reason,” Yu Lan couldn’t hold back. Gu Tan had been arrogant and overbearing in the past; they thought this time she’d be disciplined, but now she was pregnant again.

“The Crown Prince has already lifted her house arrest. Nothing has changed except that the child is being raised here with me. We just have to maintain our dignity,” Zuo Li said with an air of indifference, turning her gaze to the warm sunlight spilling in. Then she asked suddenly, “When is Lady Shen leaving?”

Yu Lan thought for a moment before replying, “She should be setting out now.”

Shen Quanyi’s favor with Li Qian exceeded everyone’s expectations in the rear palace. Though Gu Tan was confined, after becoming pregnant, Li Qian visited her personally and sent a steady stream of precious tonics to Chun Ya Courtyard.

Yet despite all this, Li Qian had not neglected Shen Quanyi, moving her out to be by his side to recuperate.

Today, however, Li Qian was delayed by official duties and did not accompany Shen Quanyi.

Because her wounds had not yet healed, Shen Quanyi was carried out of Qing Ting Courtyard in a small sedan chair. At the west gate, a black lacquered, flat-topped carriage awaited.

The carriage was spacious inside. Assisted by Qiu Yue, Shen Quanyi was helped aboard. The interior walls were lined with soft Sichuan brocade cushions. Her wounds on her back and hips prevented her from sitting upright for long, so she lay slightly forward.

A brazier on the small table burned brightly, warming the carriage interior. The driver was skilled, driving steadily, likely taking a route around the bustling market streets.

Outside, the sounds of street vendors calling out could be heard faintly.

About half an hour later, the carriage slowed and finally stopped. A voice outside called, “Please, noble lady, disembark.”