Chapter 3: Chapter 3 Confirmation
Zuo Xiangrong saw Xiangning's lips turn blue and her face devoid of any color, her heart aching with concern, she comforted, "It's okay now, you must be more careful in the future. I think you clash with water, better to stay away from it from now on."
Xiangning blinked, not mentioning that she had already learned to swim.
Zuo Xiangrong, still shaken, muttered, "The lake at the Crown Prince's Mansion is too deep, every year there are always two incidents of people falling in. Even if they carried us there in a grand palanquin next time, we should not go!"
"Sister, someone pushed me into the water." Xiangning bit her lip and said directly, "I suspect it has something to do with Third Sister."
"Your third sister, Zuo Xiangyu?" Zuo Xiangrong's expression changed slightly, incredulously she said, "Has she gone mad? What does she gain by humiliating you?"
That was the part Xiangning couldn't figure out either.
The two people she trusted the most were her third brother, Zuo Zimo, and her eldest sister, Zuo Xiangrong.
The things she had gone through were too bizarre, even for the people she trusted the most, she dared not speak of them.
But she also didn't want to be like in her previous life, timid and goat-like, allowing herself to be slaughtered by others.
She repeated to Zuo Xiangrong what Xiangyu had said.
However, she omitted the words "Second Young Master Gu."
The Gu Family was a support for the Second Prince's fight for succession. She could not allow her personal matters to ruin the Second Prince's grand plan, nor could she cause discord between her elder sister and the Second Prince.
Seeing Xiangning's helpless look, Zuo Xiangrong pondered and said, "It's impossible to confront them about this matter now, and if it gets out, it would be a scandal for our Zuo Family. But don't worry, I will find a way to investigate this."
Xiangning blinked, came back to her senses, and nodded, "We can't rush this matter. A fox's tail will show itself sooner or later."
Zuo Xiangrong, with concern, tightened her collar and said, "But that Gu Zhicheng is really a straightforward person. He heard you fell into the lake and without even seeing you, he didn't hesitate to jump in afterwards."
Xiangning's eyes flickered slightly, but she said nothing.
Thinking she was shy, Zuo Xiangrong took the handkerchief and wrapped her injured finger, softly saying, "Don't worry, your marriage is not up to Old Madam and Father without my approval."
"Take care of yourself in the palace, Sister," Xiangning said, reaching toward Zuo Xiangrong's stomach, "No matter what, your and your child's safety is the most important."
Xiangning knew that her sister's days in the palace were not easy.
All the princes were already established, but His Majesty the Emperor treated them all equally without partiality and had yet to appoint a Crown Prince.
The Second Prince was born of the Former Empress, a legitimate son, but the new Empress was the Crown Prince's maternal aunt. This complex relationship intensified the overt and covert struggles between the princes.
Moreover, the Chu King's Mansion's inner court was also unstable; the women's intrigue, jealousy, and fights never ceased. Although her sister was the Principal Consort, she likely never had a moment's peace.
Zuo Xiangrong's face turned red in an instant, and she asked with a laugh, "How did you know?"
"Huh?" Xiangning blinked, confused, "Know what?"
Zuo Xiangrong saw her puzzled look and pinched her cute nose with a laugh, "I might be pregnant. I was planning to have the Imperial Physician confirm it before telling the family."
Only then did Xiangning realize she had nearly let slip a secret before its time.
She quickly laughed, "Sister, you're sure to have a smart and adorable little imperial grandson."
Zuo Xiangrong sighed helplessly, "For me, a son or a daughter, it's all the same. But to His Lordship, naturally, a little imperial grandson would be better."
The eldest imperial son had already fathered two daughters, and granddaughters were not particularly valued by His Majesty the Emperor.
Xiangning held her sister's hand, smiling, "Sister, your wishes will surely come true."
Zuo Xiangrong laughed along, "I hope your good words come true."
Zuo Xiangrong brought Xiangning back to the Chu King's Mansion, arranged for someone to take her to bathe and change clothes, and had someone make her a bowl of ginger soup.
When Xiangning came out, Imperial Physician Liu had just finished taking Zuo Xiangrong's pulse.
"Congratulations to the Princess Consort, this is indeed a joyous pulse!" The Imperial Physician excitedly congratulated Zuo Xiangrong repeatedly.
King of Chu, who had rushed back from Prince Qi's Residence, just happened to hear the latter part of the Imperial Physician's words. He pulled Zuo Xiangrong, who was about to salute him, and excitedly asked the Imperial Physician, "Is what Imperial Physician Liu just said true?"
"Absolutely true." The Imperial Physician said with a smile.
The King of Chu couldn't hide the joy on his face but also worriedly asked the imperial physician, "Is the Princess Consort's headache serious?"
"The Princess Consort should not take too much medicine right now," the imperial physician deliberated and said, "This humble servant will prescribe some fetus-preserving medicine for the Princess Consort."
Zuo Xiangrong said she had a headache, but it was just an excuse she thought of on the spur of the moment. How could she really take medicine?
"Then I will trouble the imperial physician," she said with a smile to the imperial physician, "By the way, my younger sister from my maternal family just happens to be here. Could you also take her pulse for peace of mind?"
Naturally, the imperial physician had no reason to refuse.
Caihong took the imperial physician to the side hall to take Zuo Xiangning's pulse.
The King of Chu, delighted, wrapped his arms around Zuo Xiangrong's waist, "This is truly wonderful! You must give me a son this time!"
Zuo Xiangrong leaned into the King of Chu's chest with a shy, "Mhm."
After holding Zuo Xiangrong for a while, the King of Chu hurried into the palace.
After her pulse was taken, Zuo Xiangning went with Caihong to see Zuo Xiangrong.
"What did the imperial physician say?" Zuo Xiangrong asked with concern.
"I'm fine." Zuo Xiangning sat beside Zuo Xiangrong and asked, "Didn't my brother-in-law come back? Where is he?"
"He hurried into the palace to report the good news to His Majesty," Zuo Xiangrong pulled Zuo Xiangning's fingers, applying medicine for her, "This is high-quality ointment. After you go back, apply it three times a day, morning, noon, and night. Don't touch water..."
"Sister, I'm not a child." Faced with her gentle and beautiful older sister, Zuo Xiangning couldn't help acting spoiled.
"Right, our Xiangning is all grown up," Zuo Xiangrong smiled, and tapped her forehead, ordering some pastries to be brought up, "I specially instructed them to add more frosted sugar. Take some back with you to eat later."
"You're still letting me eat? Look how fat I've gotten," Zuo Xiangning, who loved sweets, was at her heaviest at the age of fifteen, looking like a little bun.
"Looking plump and fair is nice," Zuo Xiangrong laughed as she watched Zuo Xiangning, "Who wouldn't say our family is blessed with good fortune?"
"Only you and Mother always think I'm blessed," Zuo Xiangning took a pastry and put it in her mouth, glanced at the dim window outside, and said, "I should head back. Mother would be so happy if she knew about your pregnancy."
Zuo Xiangrong smiled with pursed lips, also wary of the rain, and said, "It's better to go back early. If you feel uncomfortable at all, see a doctor again."
"Sister—"
No sooner had Zuo Xiangning drawn out her words than she was interrupted by Zuo Xiangrong, who laughed, "I know you're not a child!"
Zuo Xiangrong walked Zuo Xiangning to the courtyard entrance, and couldn't help but give her more reminders, "Don't be like a sulky gourd every day, not telling Mother anything. Without me by your side, you're making me anxious."
"I know," Zuo Xiangning shook her arm and pouted, "You just take care of my little nephew. I won't make you worry about me."
Zuo Xiangrong watched Zuo Xiangning's retreating figure and sighed quietly to herself.
Her half-sister, who was born of a concubine, was lovely and cute as a porcelain doll, and very much adored by her siblings.
Yet, for some reason, there seemed to be a wall between her and Madame Jiang, always polite and distant, not close.
Now in the back courtyard of the Zuo Residence, only Zuo Xiangning was close to Mother. She truly hoped that Zuo Xiangning could be more intimate with Mother.
Sitting in the carriage, Zuo Xiangning still felt uncertain about the events of her past life.
She knocked on the carriage wall and said to the coachman outside, "Go to Shimenzi Alley."
In her previous life, she had lived incognito in Shimenzi Alley to avoid Gu Zhiqing.
She wanted to see if the small courtyard was the familiar one she knew.
As the carriage was about to arrive at the small courtyard, Zuo Xiangning nervously lifted a small gap in the curtain.
Just then, the next door's courtyard gate opened, and out walked a tall and thin man with a fair complexion and no beard, dressed in a claret straight robe.
Zuo Xiangning was startled and quickly let the curtain fall. It was Ding Jin!
What was he doing here?
Chapter 4: Chapter 4: The People in the House
Ding Jin had become the Chief Eunuch after the Second Prince ascended to the throne. He had the entire harem under his thumb; even her eldest sister, now the Empress, had to act carefully around him.
His actions were unpredictable, and no one knew of his origins or background, but everyone felt that he was deeply trusted by the Second Prince.
There lived a Miss Ling in the house next door, and Zuo Xiangning remembered Miss Ling telling her that she had been living here for over five years. So, what was her relationship with this Ding Jin?
The carriage stopped in front of the small courtyard that she had mentioned, and the coachman respectfully asked, "Miss, should this old servant call for the door to be opened?"
"No need," Zuo Xiangning replied, lifting the curtain to look at the familiar couplet carved above the doorframe. Her expression grew somber as she instructed, "Back to the Zuo Residence."
-
Upon arriving at the Zuo Residence, Zuo Xiangning's eyes nearly filled with tears at the sight of the words "Zuo Residence" above the door.
This had been her home for fifteen years. She never thought she would have the chance to return here.
She headed directly to Madame Jiang's Fanghua Courtyard.
"Fourth Miss is back!" Lv Ping said with a smile as she lifted the curtain for her.
Zuo Xiangning smiled back, stepped into the room, and saw Madame Jiang dressed in a treasure-blue porcelain patterned coat coming out from the inner chamber.
"Mother!" Zuo Xiangning's eyes reddened as she choked up and threw herself into Madame Jiang's arms.
"What has happened?" Madame Jiang was startled, wrapping her arms around Zuo Xiangning's shoulders, and asked urgently, "Who has bullied you? Why have you come back alone? Where is your third sister?"
Zuo Xiangning realized she was being overly emotional and quickly wiped her tears away before getting up from Madame Jiang's embrace with a smile, saying, "Mother, I have some great news to tell you."
"What great news?" Madame Jiang used a handkerchief to help Zuo Xiangning wipe away her tears.
Standing there with a beaming smile, Zuo Xiangning allowed Madame Jiang to tend to her face, "Mother, my eldest sister is pregnant!"
"What?" Madame Jiang's hand paused, and then her eyes teared up with joy, "Who told you?"
"My sister told me," Zuo Xiangning laughed, "Tomorrow, the Chu King's Mansion should send someone to announce the good news."
"That's wonderful!" Madame Jiang exclaimed joyfully and sent Cui Ping off in a hurry to prepare the Silver Kebos, "When they come tomorrow to announce the good news, give a generous reward. Each person in the residence gets two Silver Kebos. Also, have someone prepare more firecrackers to set off at the door!"
Zuo Xiangning quickly pulled at Madame Jiang's arm, "Mother, let's not prepare firecrackers. We don't know how the palace will react; it wouldn't be appropriate for our family to be too extravagant..."
"Right, you are correct," Madame Jiang hastily stopped Cui Ping, "No need for the firecrackers."
Nanny Cai brought over a bowl of silver fungus porridge, handing it to Zuo Xiangning with a smile, "Madame had it made especially for you, with Frosted Sugar added."
"Thank you, mother." Zuo Xiangning took it and drank a big gulp, remarking with a smile, "It's really delicious."
It had been so long since she'd had anything made by Nanny Cai.
"In the future, you should eat less sugar, you can't keep gaining weight," Madame Jiang commented as she sat nearby.
Zuo Xiangning just smiled at her.
Madame Jiang was always like this, saying she shouldn't eat too much sugar but unable to resist sweetening her food each time.
After she finished the silver fungus porridge, Madame Jiang said, "Come with me to the Old Madam's place."
"Alright," Zuo Xiangning lovingly linked arms with Madame Jiang.
Madame Jiang patted Zuo Xiangning's hand, "You're acting like such a child."
"A daughter loves to be close to her mother," Zuo Xiangning's eyes twinkled with irrepressible mirth.
Madame Jiang found Zuo Xiangning's affection somewhat peculiar, yet she didn't dwell on it too much.
She assumed her eldest daughter had said something to Zuo Xiangning, causing her attitude to change so suddenly.
They reached the entrance to Shian Hall before Zuo Xiangning finally let go of Madame Jiang's arm.
"I've come to report good news to the Old Madam!" Madame Jiang said with a laugh as she entered the room.
The Elder Lady Zuo, who was drinking tea, set down her cup with an unexpected look on her face, "As the matriarch, what is most important is to maintain decorum..."
Madame Jiang seamlessly interrupted the Old Madam's sharp words, "Old Madam, the Princess Consort of Chu is with child!"
The Elder Lady Zuo's usually stern face broke into surprise, and she eagerly asked, "Really? Has the mansion sent word of the news?"
"Xiangning just returned from the Chu King's Mansion; the messenger will come tomorrow," Madame Jiang said with a smile.
"Wasn't the Fourth Maid supposed to have gone to Prince Qi's Residence today?" The Elder Lady Zuo looked towards Zuo Xiangning, "How did you end up at the Chu King's Mansion? Why isn't your third sister with you?"
"My third sister should be back soon since she's with my second sister," Zuo Xiangning said with a smile.
Elder Lady Zuo furrowed her brows slightly.
Zuo Xiangning knew that Elder Lady Zuo had always disliked the children born to Madame Jiang and had a special fondness for those born to her cousin Auntie Liu.
Especially Auntie Liu's second daughter, Zuo Xiang Yun, who was not only delicately pretty but also had a sweet tongue and was particularly adept at currying favor, always being her favorite.
Yet, who would have thought that after Elder Lady Zuo had put in a great deal of effort to arrange a good marriage match for this granddaughter born of a concubine, she would insist on seeking life or death to become the concubine of the eldest imperial son.
Normally, having one's granddaughter marry the crown prince would be an utmost honor, and Elder Lady Zuo couldn't wait to dress up every day and bask in people's flattery.
However, her most beloved second granddaughter soon gave her a slap in the face.
Elder Lady Zuo was so angry that she dared not leave the Zuo Residence for a whole year, and from then on, her affection for Zuo Xiangyun, her granddaughter, faded considerably.
"The Princess Consort of Chu is with child, which is a great joy, so we must celebrate properly tomorrow," said Elder Lady Zuo to Madame Jiang, revealing a rare smile, "Everyone in the residence shall receive a reward tomorrow, and take two baskets of copper coins to scatter at the entrance so that the passersby can share in the joy!"
The reason Madame Jiang was in such a rush to tell Elder Lady Zuo the news was to add to her frustrations.
However, Madame Jiang hadn't expected Elder Lady Zuo to seem even happier than she was, making Madame Jiang feel somewhat ashamed in contrast.
"Old Madam, given that the Princess Consort of Chu carries the imperial grandchild, we should first see His Majesty's attitude," Madame Jiang advised the Old Madam.
"It's not suitable for us to be too ostentatious outwardly, but we still should delight in our own way. Tomorrow, we'll set up two banquet tables in the flower courtyard and invite the arts troupe to perform several operas," said the Old Madam, her smile undiminished on her face.
"As you wish, I'll go arrange it right now," Madame Jiang replied with a smile.
When Elder Lady Zuo looked at Zuo Xiangning, she frowned and asked, "Has the Fourth Miss gotten plumper again?"
Zuo Xiangning's face reddened involuntarily.
"Fourth Miss is growing, so naturally, she will slim down as she gets taller," Madame Jiang quickly stepped in to help Zuo Xiangning.
Elder Lady Zuo didn't say anything more and picked up her teacup.
Madame Jiang and Zuo Xiangning curtsied and left Shian Hall.
"Your grandmother has always been like this when she speaks," Madame Jiang complained, and then turned to Zuo Xiangning, "You're just fine now, only try not to gain any more weight."
Zuo Xiangning took Madame Jiang's arm, responding with a smile, "From tomorrow on, I'll eat a little less."
"Oh you! All talk and no action!" Madame Jiang laughed and said, "With your eldest sister not around, no one can manage you. Still, you really should cut back on the sweets a little."
"Hmm, I understand," said Zuo Xiangning.
After escorting Madame Jiang to the entrance of Fanghua Courtyard, Zuo Xiangning turned back towards her own Xianglan Residence.
Pan Xia and Pan Cui stood at the courtyard gate and rushed to greet her as they saw her coming.
Pan Cui was on the verge of tears, "When did Miss return? Why didn't you call for your maids?"
Zuo Xiangning gave them a deep look, her voice soft, "I'm a bit tired; I want to lie down for a while."
Pan Xia and Pan Cui quickly removed the hair ornaments from Zuo Xiangning's head and changed her into a home-worn lake-blue coat.
Leaning on the luohan bed, Zuo Xiangning took a sip of water before asking Pan Cui, "Tell me in detail what happened at Prince Qi's Residence."
"Third Miss sent me to fetch something, and when I got back, I saw Third Miss and Yu Tao yelling for help at the Moon Gate, saying you had fallen into the water and had been saved by Second Young Master Gu. When I ran to the lakeside, I saw Second Young Master Gu alone in the water, with no sight of you at all."
"Everyone gathered by the lake, and even when Prince Qi sent men to search, they couldn't find you. Then, Caixia came running, saying the Princess Consort of Chu had a headache and you had gone back to the Chu King's Mansion to accompany her. Prince Qi looked displeased and said the Third Miss was making baseless accusations..."
Zuo Xiangning confirmed again, "Third Miss said I was saved by Second Young Master Gu?"
"That's exactly what Third Miss said, and Prince Qi even questioned her, 'Where is the person who was saved?'" replied Pan Cui confidently.
Zuo Xiangning fell silent, only now realizing that her fall into the water was no accident, but rather someone had schemed against her.
But why would her half-sister, Zuo Xiangyu, do such a thing?
Zuo Xiangning felt a heaviness on her body and drifted off against the dark blue damask pillow in a daze.
In the quiet courtyard, Pan Xia's voice suddenly rose.
"Fourth Miss has just fallen asleep; Third Miss should come back later!"
Her concubine-born third sister, Zuo Xiangyu, had arrived!
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
Ranking 
30 Power
stone 
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