Princess Consort Rui then said, “In the next few days, I will invite a few elderly female instructors from the palace. At that time, they can teach the girls.”
Seeing Prince Rui nod, Princess Consort Rui lowered her eyes slightly and said, “Actually, Third Girl, Fourth Girl, and even the youngest, Fifth Girl, are all good children. It is just Second Girl… Your Highness, I know you like Lady Xu, but in the end, Third Girl is also your daughter. It is not good to continue like this. Third Girl is so sensible, yet she suffers grievances everywhere.”
Prince Rui coughed awkwardly several times. Princess Consort Rui said, “During this period, my health has not been good, and those servants have been flattering the high and trampling the low. From what I saw, Lady Chen… Third Girl’s clothes are still from last year, and the hairpin on Lady Chen’s head is rather old too.”
“This matter cannot be blamed on you.” Prince Rui frowned. He knew that because Princess Consort Rui had been unwell, most of the manor’s affairs had been handed to Lady Xu. In the end, Lady Xu came from a small household and lacked perspective.
Princess Consort Rui smiled. “The palace recently bestowed several bolts of palace satin. I think the colours are quite suitable for Third Girl. Why not give them all to her?”
“You decide,” Prince Rui said. Although he still remembered that Lady Xu had mentioned the colours of this batch of satin were good and that she wanted more to dress up her three daughters, because of what had happened today, Prince Rui decided to be colder toward Lady Xu. “I also have three boxes of gemstones. Give two boxes to Qi’er and one box to Jin’er.”
Princess Consort Rui agreed to each item. After they spoke for a while longer, Prince Rui left. Not long after, he had someone send over the three boxes of gemstones he had mentioned. Princess Consort Rui opened them and looked. Their colours and lustre were all quite good. She did not keep two boxes for her daughter as Prince Rui had said. Instead, she called Shen Qi over and asked, “Do you know where you were wrong?”
“Daughter knows she was wrong,” Shen Qi said with her head lowered.
Princess Consort Rui said, “These three boxes of gemstones—your father said two boxes are for you, and one box is for your third younger sister.”
“Give my two boxes to Third Sister as well,” Shen Qi said. She did not lack these things. “Today, Third Sister suffered a grievance.”
Only then did Princess Consort Rui nod. “Send them over personally.”
“Yes.” Seeing that her mother’s tone had softened considerably, Shen Qi leaned closer and acted spoiled. “Mother, I was too impatient today. I will not be like that again.”
Princess Consort Rui had only this one daughter, so naturally she spoiled her. Hearing this, she lightly tapped Shen Qi’s forehead and said, “Why bother lowering yourself to argue with someone like that?”
Shen Qi snorted. “I just couldn’t stand it. What kind of behaviour is it to stare so eagerly at my things? Even if I threw it away, I wouldn’t give it to her.”
Princess Consort Rui said nothing and only gently stroked her daughter’s face. In her heart, she had her own calculations. Lady Xu merely relied on the prince’s favour. Her three daughters were not good things either. They actually dared to make insinuations against her daughter in front of the prince and right before her eyes. There was no fear of revenge coming late. Lady Xu must have forgotten that her daughters’ marriages were still in Princess Consort Rui’s hands. “Just wait for the future.”
“Oh right, I think the legitimate son of Marquis Yongle is quite good,” Princess Consort Rui said gently. “I know Madam Marquis Yongle. Not only is she kind, but she also has a good relationship with me. If you marry over, she will certainly take good care of you.”
Shen Qi’s face reddened. “Mother, why are you saying this to me?”
“Naturally, I have to say it to you.” Princess Consort Rui smiled. “I only have you, this one daughter. In the end, I must ensure that you live safely, peacefully, and happily.”
“Mother can decide,” Shen Qi said softly.
Princess Consort Rui smiled. “I have also met that child. He is steady. When the time comes, after I discuss it properly with your father and the matter is settled, Marquis Yongle will request that his legitimate son be appointed heir. At that time, when you marry over, you will be the heir’s wife.”
Shen Qi answered softly, her face flushed. “I’m going to send the things to Third Sister.”
Princess Consort Rui nodded and said nothing more. Shen Qi carried the three boxes of gemstones and left.
Only then did Cuixi enter the room and say in a low voice, “His Highness went to Yi Garden.” Yi Garden was where Prince Rui’s concubines lived.
Princess Consort Rui acknowledged this. Cuixi continued, “A young maid in the courtyard overheard a few words when she was serving tea that day. I have already had her locked up.”
“Give her ten strokes of the plank. Since her heart is set on Lady Xu, send her to Lady Xu’s courtyard to serve,” Princess Consort Rui said. Her tone was still gentle.
Cuixi’s heart trembled. She feared that once this girl was sent to Lady Xu, she would not live long. However, Cuixi did not say anything more. Instead, she lowered her voice and reported what had happened in Side Consort Chen’s courtyard. When Princess Consort Rui heard that Shen Jin had embroidered a handkerchief for her, she only nodded slightly. After Cuixi finished speaking, she instructed, “In a while, have someone send the satin over. Also, take out my set of butterfly kingfisher-feather jewellery and the filigree carp buyao hairpin and send them to Lady Chen. Tell Lady Chen that five days from now, I will bring Third Girl to Marquis Yongle’s manor. Also inform the embroidery room to prioritise making Third Girl’s clothes first.”
“Yes.”
In Moyun Courtyard, Side Consort Chen looked at her sleeping daughter, her heart filled with joy. She personally tucked in the quilt for her daughter, then instructed the maidservants to serve her well. Only then did she leave while holding Mama Li’s hand. “Mama Li, today…”
“Madam, this can also be considered gaining fortune from misfortune,” Mama Li said, thinking of the message Cuixi had delivered. “The Princess Consort intends to promote Third Miss.”
“Mm. Tomorrow, I must properly instruct Jin-niang. When she goes out with the Princess Consort, she must not be naughty.” Side Consort Chen smiled. “Oh right, we must hurry and make Jin-niang a few new outfits.”
Princess Consort Rui was bringing only her own daughter and not Second Miss and the others. Side Consort Chen understood in her heart that Lady Xu would likely hate both mother and daughter to death. However, as long as she could please the Princess Consort, what did it matter if she suffered a little grievance? She only hoped that the Princess Consort would, for the sake of her obedience, choose a good marriage for Jin-niang.
“Miss is still young, so there is no need to use colours that are too bright. This old servant thinks that bolt of water-blue fabric is excellent,” Mama Li said with a smile. “It would go perfectly with the carp buyao bestowed by the main consort.”
“Would the colour be too plain?” Side Consort Chen thought for a moment and asked.
Mama Li said, “Then make another skirt in pomegranate red…”
Shen Jin knew nothing of these things. After waking up in the morning, she washed and dressed, then had her maid style her hair. “Today, make it a double flat bun. Use the pair of butterfly hairpins Mother Consort gave me yesterday.”
Princess Consort Rui had sent gifts. No matter why they had been bestowed, Shen Jin ought to wear them when going to pay respects today. Because Side Consort Chen had discussed clothing colours and styles with Mama Li until rather late the night before, she woke up late. When she came over, she saw that her daughter was already dressed. Seeing Shen Jin’s appearance, she nodded and said, “That is how it should be. Wear the things the Princess Consort gave you. When the Princess Consort sees them, she will also be pleased.”
Shen Jin did not think someone like the Princess Consort would care about such a small matter, but on the surface, she smiled brightly and said, “I know.”
Side Consort Chen checked her over again before letting Shen Jin take the handkerchief she had embroidered for the Princess Consort and go to pay her respects. Princess Consort Rui had long ago exempted these side consorts and concubines from coming to pay respects. She also did not require the daughters to come every day. Side Consort Xu only had her three daughters go once every five days, and she did not let her youngest son go even once. As for Side Consort Chen, even when it was windy or raining, she would harden her heart and make her daughter go. After so many years, this finally bore fruit.
When Shen Jin arrived, Princess Consort Rui was doing her makeup. Princess Consort Rui directly had someone bring Shen Jin in and said with a smile, “You child, why didn’t you sleep a little longer?”
“I had already woken up.” Shen Jin did not speak much when she was with the Princess Consort. Whenever the prince stayed here, she would come a little later. Usually, she arrived exactly on time. She also never lacked the sense to stay here for a meal, because the prince would come every morning to accompany the Princess Consort for breakfast. Most of the time, the Princess Consort would eat with her three children.
Shen Qi also came over. When she saw Shen Jin, she smiled and said, “I knew Third Sister would already be here. Today, Mother specially had people make pearl poria cakes, lotus root starch osmanthus cakes, and so on. Stay and eat with us.”
“You and your quick mouth,” Princess Consort Rui said with a smile, now also finished dressing.
“Thank you, Mother Consort.” Shen Jin was not lacking in awareness. If she heard these words and still said she wanted to go back to eat, that would truly be foolish. “I love sweet things, but Mother never lets me eat too much. She says I’m fat.”
“You are still young and at the age of growing. If you like them, I will have the kitchen make some every day. But you must not eat too much in one sitting,” Princess Consort Rui gently instructed.
“Yes.” Shen Jin answered with a smile, her two small dimples especially adorable. “I embroidered a handkerchief for Mother Consort. It is not well embroidered, so please do not dislike it.”
“Quickly bring it over and let me see.” Hearing this, Princess Consort Rui looked delighted and urged her, as if she knew nothing about it beforehand.
The maid beside Princess Consort Rui took it from Shen Jin’s hands and presented it to Princess Consort Rui with both hands. Princess Consort Rui held it and examined it carefully. “It is embroidered so well.” As she spoke, she removed the handkerchief she had been carrying and directly used the one Shen Jin had embroidered.
“Younger Sister, when will you embroider one for me too?” Shen Qi laughed from the side.
“Of course. As long as Older Sister does not dislike it,” Shen Jin replied. Hearing Shen Qi call her “Younger Sister,” she very tactfully changed how she addressed her.
Princess Consort Rui smiled and said, “You only know how to bully your younger sister. Jin girl, don’t listen to her. You mustn’t tire yourself.”
Shen Qi supported Princess Consort Rui as they slowly walked outside. When they passed Shen Jin, the maid beside Princess Consort Rui stepped back. Princess Consort Rui reached out and held Shen Jin’s hand. No wonder Lady Chen said Shen Jin was chubby. She really did know how to grow. Her bone structure was small, so she did not look fat, but her body was soft and fleshy.
When Shen Jin was held by Princess Consort Rui, her heart suddenly jumped, but her reaction was not slow. She followed Princess Consort Rui outside and said, “It won’t tire me. I embroider slowly. But Mother always says I waste materials.”
“Why?” Shen Qi asked curiously.
Shen Jin’s face reddened, and she said softly, “The things I embroider… always turn out fat.”
Princess Consort Rui did not react for a moment. When they reached the hall and were waiting for Prince Rui, she took out the handkerchief and looked at it carefully. Then she began to laugh. Shen Qi also leaned closer to look. Once she looked, was it not indeed fat? Shen Jin had embroidered a picture of red carp playing among lotus flowers. Not only were the lotus leaves round and plump, even the carp looked fatter than ordinary carp.
When Prince Rui came in, what he heard was a room full of laughter. What he saw was Shen Qi and Shen Jin laughing and playing together, while Princess Consort Rui sat above them, not only failing to stop them but laughing endlessly as well. Seeing this scene, he felt that it was both warm and cheerful.
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