Yun Zhu was indeed planning to pin everything on Wang Qingyao.
She wasn't stupid; she knew Xiao Yun was the son of Consort Fang, and Consort Fang would only side with him.
But the daughter-in-law was different.
Of course, she wasn't foolish enough to complain directly. After returning from Kangping Courtyard, she hid in her room and cried.
Consort Fang, not seeing her to report, would naturally ask a few questions.
This time, however, Consort Fang didn't ask her directly. Instead, she asked the young maid who had accompanied her. This maid was clever and immediately recounted everything that had happened in Kangping Courtyard.
She didn't add any embellishments; it was exactly as it happened.
When Consort Fang heard the phrase, "Would you eat shit if Consort Fang told you to eat shit?", her eyes nearly popped out.
Xiao Yun was becoming more and more outrageous, even more so than before he was married.
Could it be the influence of Wang Qingyao?
Compared to Yun Zhu being bullied, Consort Fang couldn't stand her own son spewing words like shit and piss.
Worried about this, she forgot about Yun Zhu crying in her room. She was solely focused on bringing the legitimate son Wang Qingyao would give birth to back to Jingwu Courtyard to raise, so as not to be tainted by this low-status daughter-in-law.
The pitiful Yun Zhu cried in her room for over half an hour, but Consort Fang never came to comfort her. She had no choice but to wipe her tears and leave as if nothing had happened.
When Consort Fang saw her red and swollen eyes, she finally remembered that Xiao Yun had scolded her.
But one was her own son, and the other was just a maid. Consort Fang would naturally not blame her son for the sake of a maid.
So, she gently patted Yun Zhu's hand as a sign of comfort, but asked no further questions and said nothing more.
Yun Zhu: "..."
That's it?
Meanwhile, in the West Garden of Kangping Courtyard, Huang Shiyu and the other three were discussing Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun under the lamp.
Qian Yu said, "The way the Prince and Princess interact is so amusing. Did you see? She even rolled her eyes and said 'Go to hell' to the Prince, and the Prince didn't care at all, playfully bantering with her."
As Qian Yu spoke, she felt a touch of envy, her expression becoming distant. She remembered her own parents, who were also so affectionate and loving in their playful bickering.
Huang Shiyu said, "I think Consort Fang doesn't seem to like the Princess much."
Bian Siyue propped her head up and yawned, "His son is a short-lived ghost, what right does she have to look down on others?"
Huang Shiyu covered her mouth, "Disaster comes from the mouth, disaster comes from the mouth. Are you tired of living!"
Jiang Jing quickly looked outside the door. The maids serving were all standing obediently in the courtyard, quite a distance away.
It seemed the Princess had no interest in monitoring them.
"Go rest," she said. "We have to get up early tomorrow, and we'll have to get up early every day from now on."
Qian Yu and Jiang Jing had practiced martial arts since childhood, getting up before dawn to practice stances, punches, and swordplay.
Waking up early was nothing to them.
Bian Siyue, however, was miserable. She loved to sleep in. She had woken up early today and had been yawning all day.
"Everyone go to sleep," Huang Shiyu said.
Soon, the West Garden was dark and silent, the lights extinguished.
The next day, fresh crabs were indeed delivered. Zhizi, while helping Wang Qingyao get up, slowly said, "There are forty in total. Old Consort, Consort Fang, and the Second Prince each sent eight, and we have sixteen. The Prince said you like crab roe noodles, so I took the liberty of asking the kitchen to shuck six for you to mix with noodles at noon. The rest can be steamed and eaten directly."
In the past, Yin Zhu used to handle this reporting. Now that she was guarding the gate, Zhizi had to do it herself.
She wasn't used to speaking such a long string of words.
Wang Qingyao nodded and casually asked, "Where is Yin Zhu?"
Zhizi paused for a moment, then said, "The four concubines were supposed to come to pay their respects before Mao Shi, but Yin Zhu stopped them, saying they weren't allowed to come here without your orders. The four concubines didn't return to their rooms and have been waiting at the garden entrance."
Wang Qingyao looked at the time. They had been standing for two hours, hadn't they?
"Let them come," she ordered.
Zhizi said "Yes" and went out to relay the message.
When the four concubines entered, the other three seemed quite energetic, only Bian Siyue looked listless, her eyes almost closed.
Wang Qingyao saw Jiang Jing secretly pinch her several times.
She suppressed a smile and granted them seats, saying, "There's no rule of early morning greetings here. You can wake up whenever you want. I myself like to sleep in, and I have to pay respects to the Old Consort, so don't disturb me before Si Shi. If I really have something, I'll send someone to call you."
The four were overjoyed, especially Bian Siyue, who looked at Wang Qingyao with tears in her eyes.
The Princess is so understanding...
Sob sob!
"You haven't had breakfast yet, let's eat together later."
When Wang Qingyao said eat together, she truly meant it, not having them stand by to serve. Not even maids were needed.
While they were eating, Nian Momo hurried in, "Princess, the wife of Duke Zhongyong is dead!"
Wang Qingyao was stunned for a moment before realizing that the wife of Duke Zhongyong was Madam Huang.
"How did she die?"
"She fell ill in the middle of the night and passed away."
This illness was too sudden, Wang Qingyao thought. Madam Huang didn't look like someone who was ill.
There must be a hidden reason.