Chapter 168 - 146: Raising a Baby Together

Prince Xie was escorted out of the palace with the imperial gift of Warm Love Wine, lost in thought.

Before he left, the Emperor had spoken to him plainly. "Brother, don’t think I’m testing you. The late Emperor passed away many years ago, and in thirty days, you’ll be twenty-six. Ever since we entered Wenhua Hall, we’ve studied diligently day after day, mastering both civil and military arts... Our tutor was the premier scholar of the court—a resource many students could only dream of, yet it was readily available to us. Don’t you want to put your talents to good use? Are you really content to carry all that ambition while playing the fool in the imperial court, shutting yourself up in your manor, and ignoring worldly affairs?"

Prince Xie gazed at him.

Among all the princes, Xie Che resembled the late Emperor the most, which was also the source of Prince Xie’s unresolvable resentment.

He said, "Your subject has never blamed Your Majesty. The one your subject blames is my imperial father."

After uttering these words of great disrespect, Prince Xie refused to speak further and immediately knelt to take his leave. Xie Che saw that he wouldn’t be able to pry anything more from him today and, not wanting to push him too hard, let him go.

After returning to his manor, he said to his confidant, "Today in the palace, the Emperor said a great deal to me. I suspect he has been influenced by someone... Go and investigate who the Emperor has been summoning most frequently lately."

* * *

Prince Xie’s question could be answered by every member of the harem.

Who else could it be but Gu Wan Yi!

Consort Guo and Lu Ronghua were practically bleeding with jealousy. Because of Gu Wan Yi, the two of them buried the hatchet and actually started associating with each other. They endlessly gossiped about three topics: "Gu Wan Yi will have a difficult birth," "Gu Wan Yi’s pregnancy is unstable," and "Gu Wan Yi will definitely have a daughter," all while staring at Jiang Xian’s belly. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to cause her trouble; they just couldn’t.

When it came to her food and incense, the Empress Dowager and the Empress were keeping a close watch.

To tamper with either of those things, one couldn’t get by without the help of eunuchs and palace maids. Ultimately, that meant you needed connections in the Imperial Household, and the Imperial Household was Noble Princess Consort Rong’s personal fiefdom... Lu Ronghua was utterly astonished to discover that the Noble Consort truly intended to protect this pregnancy.

"For all her arrogance, that woman from the Rong family is a fool! To think she’s actually protecting that little slut’s pregnancy. Doesn’t she realize that once she gives birth to a prince, even a Noble Consort will be outshone by a mere Wanyi?" Lu Ronghua slammed her teacup on the table, her resentment now directed at the Noble Consort for not helping them deal with Gu Wan Yi. "Given the Emperor’s current favor for Gu Wan Yi, the merit from bearing a son will likely earn her another promotion. The child will be raised by her personally. At most, the Empress might get to be called ’Mother Empress,’ but the Noble Consort will get nothing out of it."

Consort Guo agreed. "If the Noble Consort were smart, the proper thing to do would be to find a way to get rid of this pregnancy. It’s not like she can’t have children herself."

Hearing Consort Guo’s words, Lu Ronghua fell silent for a few moments, not replying.

...

But Noble Princess Consort Rong remained completely unconcerned with how the rest of the harem gossiped behind her back.

The very first day Jiang Xian’s happy news was announced, she had instructed the staff of Zhaoyang Palace, "I will not tolerate any foolish slaves in my palace who, under the banner of acting in my best interests, commit filthy, underhanded deeds. Setting aside the fact that Gu Wan Yi’s pregnancy has nothing to do with Zhaoyang Palace, if she comes here, you are all to serve her well. We wouldn’t want to displease the Emperor."

The Noble Consort knew all too well that those women were just waiting to use her as a weapon.

"Only someone as thoroughly spoiled and foolish as Ms. Zhang would have been stupid enough to break your arm," the Noble Consort said to Jiang Xian.

Jiang Xian said, "...Your Ladyship is right."

’Let the truth of my broken arm be buried in the river of history!’

Seeing Jiang Xian’s heedless expression, Noble Princess Consort Rong became exasperated. She began to recount all the shadowy forces that had been trying, both openly and secretly, to harm her through the Imperial Household these past few days. But the relationships between the harem and the imperial court were a tangled web; while she could help Jiang Xian avoid disaster, it was not convenient for her to expose everything.

"I see. Thank you for taking such trouble on my behalf, Your Ladyship."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xian had a sudden realization.

’No wonder I’ve been mysteriously gaining Palace Fighting Points these past few days.’

’So the Noble Consort has been carrying this burden for me.’

"I’m only looking out for you a little for the Emperor’s sake," Noble Princess Consort Rong said, pouting.

"I’m also very careful about my daily routine and diet. Others won’t be able to harm me. Here, feel," Jiang Xian took her hand and placed it on her own lower abdomen. "It’s only with Your Ladyship’s care that he has been able to grow safely so far. When he is born, Your Ladyship will be his mother, too."

According to the customs of Yan Chi, aside from his birth mother, adoptive mother, and the Empress, a prince would address other concubines using their titles. For those below the rank of Pin, he would call them directly by their lower titles, like Changzai So-and-so, or Daying So-and-so.

’In modern terms,’ Jiang Xian thought, ’my relationship with the Noble Consort would make us besties.’

’Although my past friendships with colleagues were only valid during work hours, in this life, I think I can have some real female friends. If I have a son, it’s only right that my bestie becomes his godmother.’

Her thoughts were simple and direct, but unexpectedly, the Noble Consort’s eyes reddened. "I have no designs on your child."

Jiang Xian: ...

’Where did she even get that idea?!’

Fortunately, her recent ordeals with the Emperor’s dramatics had given her some understanding of such emotionally needy people. She immediately explained, "I know you don’t! Isn’t there the concept of godparents among commoners? Our relationship is so good. If my child calls you ’Mother-Consort,’ we can raise him together when he’s little. When he’s grown, he can protect us from the storms of life. We’ll be set for a lifetime."

’Feelings and benefits are never truly separate.’

’Jiang Xian’s way of thinking was always pragmatic. Besides the alluring sweet-nothings she could spout, thanks to the Blame Template’s education, she considered her mind to be wired with steel rebar. Even if steel could be bent into a delicate shape, it would still be cold to the touch.’

But Noble Princess Consort Rong was moved by the image she described.

When a woman in the harem finally managed to conceive, she would view the child as her lifelong support, terrified of it being snatched away. She would constantly drill into the child to be wary of the other concubines. But that wasn’t what was in Gu Wan Yi’s heart. She felt her relationship with the Noble Consort was so good they could raise a child together.

"Hmph."

From this one "hmph," it was obvious that Noble Princess Consort Rong was pleased. "My relationship with you is nothing special. I bet you say the same thing to the Empress."

Jiang Xian good-naturedly placated her. "Yes, yes, our relationship is entirely built on me shamelessly pestering and wheedling Your Ladyship, all to find a protector for the child in my belly. I really couldn’t have done it without you..." She pleaded and cajoled, making it sound as if she couldn’t even have conceived this child without the Noble Consort, until she finally coaxed her into a good mood.

"Well, it wasn’t as one-sided as you make it sound. I was willing, too."

’My mouth is dry from all that talking.’

Jiang Xian waved for Qiu Yun to pour her a cup of tea. "To soothe my throat. Your Ladyship, the tea here is better than at Bihua Palace."

’The last time I had to waste this much breath, it was to placate the Emperor.’

’I’ve managed to run into the two most high-maintenance people in the entire harem!’

Just before she left, however, Qiu Yun brought out a stuffed-to-the-brim tea caddy, saying it was a gift from the Lady. She added that pregnant women shouldn’t drink tea, and it would be best to save it to enjoy after her postpartum confinement.

Jiang Xian returned to Bihua Palace with the tea caddy. She hadn’t enjoyed the quiet for long before the Emperor arrived again.

His very first sentence was a complaint. "I went to sleep full of anticipation last night, but I didn’t get to see our son."