In Jingwu Courtyard, Consort Fang also found it difficult to fall asleep for a long time.
The deafening sounds of firecrackers outside made her feel annoyed, especially when she heard that Kangping Courtyard had become lively again after returning from the flower hall, which made her feel even more uncomfortable.
Wang Qingyao clearly didn't want to spend more time with her. She had promised to go back to sleep but then secretly enjoyed herself behind the elders' backs. Hmph, truly ill-bred!
Consort Fang had been too stimulated today, so her recollections were somewhat harsh.
Yun Zhu, as Consort Fang's most trusted attendant, naturally stayed up on this special day, sleeping on a footstool.
Hearing Consort Fang tossing and turning, she proactively initiated a conversation.
"Did the firecrackers outside disturb Your Ladyship? Your Ladyship has always preferred quiet."
Consort Fang sighed, "There are firecrackers every year, but this year they are particularly irritating. My heart, it feels like there's a blockage, making me terribly uncomfortable."
Yun Zhu also sighed softly, "Your Ladyship has always been pure and detached, seeking no conflict, yet others always come to trouble Your Ladyship. Such a major event as the Princess Consort's pregnancy, and no one notified Your Ladyship... In the end, it's because the Princess Consort doesn't hold Your Ladyship in her heart. The Prince is busy with official duties, is the Princess Consort also busy? Usually, she doesn't even manage the household, only knowing how to eat, drink, and play. Now that she's pregnant, she's even more idle. Kangping Courtyard is only a few steps away from Jingwu Courtyard, yet she's unwilling to come and tell Your Ladyship... Yun Zhu truly feels it's unfair to Your Ladyship!"
Since the incident of framing Yin Zhu was exposed last time, Yun Zhu adopted a strategy of overt praise and covert criticism, making Consort Fang believe she had truly repented.
However, this Lunar New Year's Eve, not only Consort Fang was stimulated, but she was also stimulated.
The thought of Xiao Mo and Feng Jiangduo being together sent waves of pain through her heart, causing her to lose her reason and vent all her resentment and anger onto Wang Qingyao.
She had heard that Feng Jiangduo's arrival in Duanjing was all instigated by Wang Qingyao.
Upon hearing Yun Zhu's words, Consort Fang felt even more distressed.
"Moreover, the Princess Consort is close to the young princess. Once the young princess truly enters the Xiao family, and after the Old Consort passes away, will they still tolerate Your Ladyship!"
Yun Zhu hated Wang Qingyao deeply. Back then, she not only held favor in Jingwu Courtyard but was also a significant figure in the entire Ding'an Prince's manor. Servants from other courtyards, regardless of their rank as maids or wet nurses, all addressed her as "Miss Yun Zhu."
She had envisioned a beautiful future: currently, the Old Consort managed the household. After the Old Consort's passing, it would naturally be Consort Fang's turn. And Consort Fang listened to her in everything, which was no different from her managing the household.
As long as the newly married Princess Consort was not favored by Consort Fang.
That was why she had plotted to frame Wang Qingyao and target her everywhere.
However, she no longer needed to frame Wang Qingyao. She truly hadn't expected a daughter-in-law to be as arrogant as Wang Qingyao! Without her needing to say much, Consort Fang already disliked Wang Qingyao as a daughter-in-law immensely.
When the Second Master of Ding'an Prince's manor dies, and Wang Qingyao loses her support, she naturally won't be able to be so arrogant.
The Second Young Master is capable and favored by the Old Consort and Consort Fang. When the Prince of Ding'an dies, this household will belong to the Second Young Master.
Yun Zhu knew her status was low and she couldn't marry Xiao Mo as the main wife, but she was qualified to be a concubine. Furthermore, being a concubine bestowed by Consort Fang would grant her much more prestige than an ordinary concubine.
As long as Xiao Mo married a wife he didn't favor!
At that time, even if Wang Qingyao gave birth to a young prince, what good would it do?
A widowed mother with a baby who hadn't even grown all its teeth – what waves could they stir up?
Just like Consort Fang, after her husband died, her fate was to live in seclusion and devote herself to Buddhist practices.
Yun Zhu's future imaginings brought her a great deal of comfort.
Consort Fang asked, "Then what should I do?"
In the darkness, Yun Zhu let out a malicious smile, "Your Ladyship, please rest assured. As long as the Second Young Master and the young princess cannot be together, as long as Your Ladyship takes in the young prince to raise, and as long as someone is sent to divide the Princess Consort's favor while she is pregnant, cultivating a concubine who can contend with her..."
Consort Fang nodded repeatedly as she listened.
"But A Yun is not keen on women. Among the four concubines in his courtyard, only that Consort Bian has received his favor." Speaking of this, Consort Fang couldn't help but let out a cold snort. "The Princess Consort truly keeps a tight hold on him. Now that she's pregnant, does she still have the nerve to keep A Yun to herself?"
"Isn't that the point?" Yun Zhu said. "No matter how much the Prince favors the Princess Consort, can he endure ten months without touching other women?"
Indeed, even Xiao Yun's father, Consort Fang's husband, had taken in a maidservant when she was pregnant.
Men were men; no matter how deep their affection, they had physiological needs.
Consort Fang felt she understood men thoroughly.
Yun Zhu continued, "Your Ladyship only needs to summon Consort Bian more often to chat with her, give her more face, and support her. She will naturally dare to challenge the Princess Consort. When the Princess Consort gives birth to the young prince after ten months, and Your Ladyship takes the young prince to raise, the Princess Consort will surely be unwilling. She will definitely quarrel with the Prince over this matter... And at this time, Consort Bian will have accumulated ten months of affection with the Prince. Faced with a Princess Consort who only throws tantrums, won't the Prince distance himself and go to Consort Bian..."
Under Yun Zhu's scheming advice, Consort Fang gradually felt sleepy...