Chapter 196: The Former Princess Consort of Ping

 Chapter 196: The Former Princess Consort of Ping 

In the front courtyard of the Yan residence, Yan Zhigao and a group of colleagues and friends were enjoying yellow wine and eating hairy crabs. The atmosphere was lively.

In the back courtyard, Madam Li and the other ladies were also having a great time, eating crabs and chatting.

Since there were plenty of hairy crabs delivered, Madam Li had sent invitations to the families who lived nearby. At this moment, the women from each family were gathered around the matriarch, joking and laughing as they slowly savored the crab roe, crab fat, and crab meat.

In Shuangxing Courtyard, Concubine Lin was leaning against the door of her room, listening to the laughter from Songhe Courtyard. She absentmindedly touched her slightly swollen belly, a look of melancholy on her face.

The joy and liveliness of the Yan family had nothing to do with her, even though she had given birth to two children and was now carrying another.

As the Yan family’s status rose, the difference between the legitimate wife and the concubine became more and more apparent.

Now, her younger brother could no longer freely enter the back courtyard. To come in, he had to inform the madam in advance and get her permission. Moreover, a maid would accompany him.

Only now did she truly understand the sorrow of being a concubine.

In the west wing, Liu Shi was sitting by the window, quietly stitching a purse. She glanced at Concubine Lin and a trace of mockery appeared on her lips before she lowered her head and resumed her embroidery.

She had realized long ago that one must accept their fate.

From the moment she first saw Concubine Lin, she had known that she was someone who was unwilling to accept her fate but lacked the luck and means to change it.

Logically speaking, a concubine with three children could be considered fortunate. This was something even some prestigious families could not dare to hope for.

If she had better luck or more clever means, perhaps she could turn things around.

Unfortunately, she had encountered an even luckier legitimate wife.

The three children born to the legitimate wife were exceptional, and as long as they were around, Concubine Lin had no hope for anything else. It was pointless to even wish for more.

At this moment, the maid Xu’er entered the room with a food box, smiling.

“Concubine, it’s Mid-Autumn Festival today. The madam asked the kitchen to prepare extra dishes, and we can go take some mooncakes later.”

Liu Shi glanced at the dishes and smiled.

She was very satisfied with her life in the Yan residence, even though the master had never visited her room, and the madam had not treated her poorly either.

She knew that with her background and status, the only way to survive was to remain obedient.

For this, she had no complaints, even though she was not yet twenty years old.

Compared to those other concubines who had been tortured to death or sold off by the legitimate wife, she considered herself incredibly fortunate.

Liu Shi put down the embroidery frame and smiled at Xu’er. “You should go eat too!”

At the Main Peak of Wuhua Mountain

In the palace, Xiao Yeyang was enjoying hairy crabs with Dong Yuanxuan and the others.

Yan Wenkai, while roughly cracking the crab’s claws, nudged Dong Yuanxuan and whispered, “What’s going on with the Young Prince? Why does he insist on spending Mid-Autumn Festival in the palace?”

He had suggested going to their home, but his suggestion was declined.

Dong Yuanxuan glanced at the crab shell that had gotten all over Yan Wenkai’s hands and found it hard to watch. He looked at the relaxed Xiao Yeyang and said meaningfully, “On Mid-Autumn Festival, of course, you have to be with your family.”

Yan Wenkai didn’t quite understand.

The Young Prince’s family was in the capital. What did spending Mid-Autumn Festival in the palace have to do with that?

He was about to ask, but Dong Yuanxuan had already gone off to join his older brother and Zhou Chengye in a drinking game.

At the Plum Forest Villa on the Top of the Main Peak

“Is this mooncake from Yang’er?” 
Xiao Yeyang’s uncle, Prefect Magistrate Guo, was looking at the mooncakes on the table with surprise.

Sitting across from him, the beautiful and well-dressed Lady Bai rolled her eyes at him and said with some annoyance, “Yang’er sent me mooncakes, is there a need to be so surprised?”

Prefect Magistrate Guo still seemed a bit stunned. “But this child’s attitude toward you has always been…” He paused, glancing at his sister’s calm expression. Only then did he continue, “It’s not what I expected.”

“That child used to fly into a rage every time anyone mentioned you. How did he suddenly change? Now, he even takes the initiative to send you gifts?”

The beautiful woman was Prefect Magistrate Guo’s sister, Guo Ruomei, the former Princess Consort of Ping, and Xiao Yeyang’s biological mother.

Recalling the reports she had received, Guo Ruomei smiled slightly. “Perhaps he has figured something out. Ever since the Dragon Boat Festival, the child has been sending me things from time to time.”

Although Prefect Magistrate Guo was surprised, he was genuinely pleased with his nephew's change. Since his sister had left the Prince Ping's residence, she had never appeared before her nephew, but she had certainly been watching his growth from behind the scenes.

The love for one’s child is a bond that heaven can witness.

“Before, Yang’er said he wanted to stay at Wangyue Academy to study, and I thought it wasn’t a good idea. But now, looking at it, it seems to have worked out well. If this allows you two mother and son to reconcile, what does it matter if he is far from the capital?”

At the mention of the capital, a cold glint flashed in Guo Ruomei’s eyes.

If it weren’t for certain people with ulterior motives whispering in her son’s ear, how could they have been estranged to the point where he wouldn’t even meet her for over a decade?

Seeing his sister’s brows furrow again, Prefect Magistrate Guo knew she was thinking of some people in the capital and quickly changed the subject. “This mooncake is quite special. Everyone else makes flowers, but this one looks like a pig’s head.”

Upon hearing this, Guo Ruomei couldn’t help but laugh. “What’s wrong with a pig’s head? I think it’s quite cute.”

Prefect Magistrate Guo found it a little hard to watch his sister’s taste but still politely tried a piece. “Hmm, it tastes pretty good.”

After saying that, he quickly finished the piece in his hand and reached for a second one.

“Smack!”

Guo Ruomei slapped his hand away, complaining, “This mooncake was sent by Yang’er to me. You’ve already had one piece. Don’t take any more.”

Seeing his sister’s possessiveness, Prefect Magistrate Guo couldn’t help but chuckle. “It’s just a mooncake. Is it really necessary to be like this?”

Guo Ruomei signaled for a maid to take the mooncakes away before speaking. “There are only eight pieces. Who knows when I’ll be able to have another one sent by Yang’er? I have to save them.”

Hearing this, Prefect Magistrate Guo felt a pang of bitterness and sighed. “Your temperament is too strong. If you had endured back then, you wouldn’t be in a situation where you have to save the mooncakes your son sent.”

Guo Ruomei sneered coldly. “If I had to do it all over again, I would still choose to divorce him. It’s just that it has been hard on my Yang’er.” She then glanced at Prefect Magistrate Guo with an apologetic look.

“Also, I’ve dragged the Guo family into this.” 

Prefect Magistrate Guo waved his hand dismissively. “It’s not your fault. The blame lies with Prince Ping, who mistreated you from the start. He’s always acted without any decorum. The emperor knows all of this. That’s why, over the years, both the Guo family and Yang’er have been treated well.”

“And the Empress Dowager has also kept her teeth clenched, refusing to promote Lady Ma to be Prince Ping’s official wife. To this day, Lady Ma is still only a side consort, and her son remains a bastard.”

A cold smile appeared at the corner of Guo Ruomei’s mouth, but she didn’t respond.

Whether it was the emperor or the Empress Dowager, everything they did was merely to protect their own interests. 

End of Chapter