The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 547 - 514: Is Young Master Song Moving With Us? (First Update)
Consort Qing caught a good moment, revealing her pregnancy on Emperor Guangxi’s most joyous day at the Longevity Festival. Plus, with the soon-to-be Empress, Princess Consort Qi, speaking for her, Emperor Guangxi gifted her a plethora of items, from exquisite palace brocade cloud silk to head ornaments, jewelry, and vases in the sleeping palace, all exceptionally refined.
Next to Consort Qing was Princess Consort Jin, who, seeing her pregnant and rewarded, spoke with a sour tone, "Sister, you have great fortune; what you gave out today has all come back doubled."
Consort Qing lowered her eyes modestly, "You’re making fun of me, sister."
Since the time she first entered the palace and, due to a foolish act instigated by others, lost the Emperor’s favor, Consort Qing had been discreet till now. It’s not that she couldn’t fight, she just lived more cautiously; therefore, even if others ridiculed her, as long as it wasn’t excessive, she usually let it slide with a smile.
Princess Consort Jin hit a wall, her face turning blue with anger, and then she sneered, "Don’t be too smug early on; this harem is a place that breeds princesses. If at your age, you truly bear a princess, it would be a hollow joy."
Consort Qing smiled gently, "Whether it’s a prince or a princess, they are the Emperor’s flesh and blood. At least I’ve become a mother; how can you call it hollow joy when the child still exists?"
Princess Consort Jin had been in the palace for many years and had only one pregnancy, which was a princess born dead. Emperor Guangxi found her unlucky and never favored her again.
So, Consort Qing’s words hit her right in the heart.
Princess Consort Jin’s eyes turned red with anger, "You!"
Other concubines beside her pulled her, "Enough, say no more. Can’t you see whose side the Empress is standing on? Know whom not to provoke, and have some sense."
Princess Consort Jin clutched her handkerchief, unwillingly snorted coldly, and turned her head away.
The bustle inside Qingliang Palace continued, and no one noticed this minor episode.
Princess Consort Qi, finally recovering from her "dream," slightly restrained her smile and cast her gaze to the right and downwards, landing it on Zhao Xi.
The young prince sat upright, holding a wine cup in his quite bony hands, occasionally speaking to Song Yuanbao beside him. His calm and composed demeanor gave no hint that he had just been appointed Crown Prince.
Princess Consort Qi sighed.
Her son’s temperament wasn’t like hers, competitive and strong-willed. He excelled in all aspects except scheming, which often worried her privately, always fearing such a disposition would lead to future losses.
Yet now, it seems her son’s persistence may have been correct.
If the Emperor was dissatisfied with Zhao Xi, then no matter how much the officials petitioned in blood today, he would never relent and allow Zhao Xi to become the Crown Prince.
...
After closing the doors of the twelve chests, Song Wei had the mechanical beasts carried away and returned to his seat.
Wen Wan was drinking soup, and upon seeing him return, she looked up, eyes full of curiosity, "Were all those mechanical beasts just now created by your Divine Soldier Bureau?"
Song Wei smiled at her, "Do you like them?"
Wen Wan made an "um" sound, "They look fierce. Are there any that aren’t fierce, the kind that kids would love at first sight?"
Guessing she might want one to take back for Jinbao to play with, Song Wei nodded, "I’ll ask my master another day to see if he can modify one."
"Can it really be modified?" Wen Wan asked, "What if the Emperor disagrees?"
Song Wei placed a piece of food in her bowl, "If someone else wants it, the Emperor may not agree, but if that person is you, it’s different."
"How is it different?"
Song Wei said, "The Emperor will fulfill all your requests as long as they don’t cross the line."
Regardless of whether Emperor Guangxi was sweetening her because of her mother, Wen Wan thought having an uncle who was an Emperor wasn’t bad at all.
The palace banquet had lasted over an hour, and it was already past noon when it dispersed. Several Imperial Decree Ladies insisted on going to Xianfu Palace to join Consort Qi for a little gathering, pulling Wen Wan along.
Song Wei couldn’t accompany them, agreeing to wait for her outside the Imperial City Gate, and then continued walking down the palace path when suddenly he heard Song Yuanbao’s voice, "Father!"
Song Wei stopped, turning to look at him.
Song Yuanbao slowed his pace, his face showing a bit of embarrassment. He remained silent for quite a while before finally speaking, "Thank you, Father."
Before Song Wei could respond, he lowered his eyes and said, "Your Highness couldn’t become the Crown Prince; I couldn’t help at all, only getting angry, but you unknowingly arranged and planned everything for him. Even gifting at the Longevity Festival could deliver the position of Crown Prince into his hands. Besides admiration and gratitude, I really don’t know how to describe my feelings today."
Song Wei smiled and said that he hadn’t done nothing for His Highness, "Before you entered the palace, His Highness’s daily itinerary was fixed, and he lived like a puppet. Unless necessary, he would hardly say a word to others. He was excellent, yet so excellent that others found it difficult to approach. Such a person was only suitable to be an excellent prince, not a Crown Prince or future Emperor because he didn’t understand interpersonal relations. Since you entered the palace, he has changed in this regard, becoming much more approachable. I think he kept you by his side for so long probably for this reason as well."
Song Yuanbao opened his mouth in surprise. He only knew that since his entrance into the palace, he was always inferior to Zhao Xi and never thought he could be so useful to him.
"Dad, are the things you’re telling me true?" Yuanbao asked.
Song Wei replied, "If you don’t believe me, go ask him yourself."
"Stop teasing me." Yuanbao pouted, "Even if His Highness really thinks so, he definitely wouldn’t say it out loud."
The main problem is that person is too aloof, likes to keep everything to himself, won’t speak unless asked, and even if asked, he won’t say much. Talking to him more than a few sentences could make oneself half-dead with frustration.
——
Over at Xianfu Palace, the First-rank Imperial Decree Ladies were engaged in a lively conversation, all focusing on Zhao Xi, who was soon to be appointed Crown Prince. After chatting for a while, someone brought up the Crown Princess Consort.
A First-rank Imperial Decree Lady said, "Before, the third lady from the Minister’s Mansion was only a concubine. I suppose the Imperial Concubine already has someone in mind for the position of the main wife?"
Handling such things, Princess Consort Qi was at ease, "Whether it’s a Prince Consort or a Crown Princess Consort, it has to be appointed by the Emperor; one person alone cannot decide this."
The lady responded, "Even if it’s up to the Emperor, the name list would still have to pass by you first!"
Princess Consort Qi guessed these people wanted to probe about the main wife, cleared her throat and said, "Xixi is only fifteen this year. There’s no rush to take a wife, at least not until he is over seventeen."
Wen Wan had been quietly sitting by the side, not joining in on the discussion. At this hour, she would normally be taking a nap, now yawning over and over.
Princess Consort Qi glanced at her, her expression somewhat meaningful.
If it were any other First-rank Imperial Decree Lady behaving so willfully on her turf, she certainly wouldn’t have been so kindly.
But Mrs. Song was quite different.
She resembled the former Eldest Princess Zhao Xunyin, the Emperor’s sister.
The first time Princess Consort Qi saw Wen Wan was when she went to Qianqing Palace to invite Emperor Guangxi to move his residence, and she was taken aback. Later, at a banquet, she noticed the Emperor treating Mrs. Wen with great care, sending Mr. Cui to the Imperial Kitchen for special deliveries of food and drink. Princess Consort Qi figured that the Emperor’s favor of Song Wei was likely related to Mrs. Song.
For someone specially favored by the Emperor, she naturally had to be dealt with carefully.
Smiling, Princess Consort Qi said, "Mrs. Song, are you feeling sleepy?"
Wen Wan’s hand fell from her mouth as she yawned, her eyes showing some apology, "Beg your pardon, Imperial Concubine, I am just... too sleepy."
Before she could finish, Princess Consort Qi gently replied, "You’re expecting, feeling drowsy is inevitable. Let’s end it here today; everyone can disperse."
She too was quite annoyed with these few who kept asking about the choice for Crown Princess Consort, and seized the opportunity to dismiss everyone to have some peace.
From Xianfu Palace to the Imperial City Gate, the walk would take at least an hour’s time. Wen Wan couldn’t walk that far, so it was Princess Consort Qi who arranged for a soft sedan chair to take her out, with Song Wei waiting at the city gate.
Seeing her safely return, Song Wei secretly sighed in relief and asked her what she had done at Xianfu Palace.
Wen Wan said, "Didn’t do anything, everyone just sat and chatted a bit, talked from the Crown Prince to the Crown Princess Consort, then discussed other topics. I was just too sleepy, didn’t pay much attention to it."
Seeing her talk with her eyelids drooping, Song Wei couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy, softly said, "Get in the carriage, there’s still some distance to go home. Take a nap on the way, and you can rest properly once we’re back."
Wen Wan softly agreed and got into the carriage with Song Wei’s help.
Once settled, neither spoke; she leaned on his shoulder and soon fell asleep.
——
Zhao Xi returned to Yutang Palace with Eunuch Sanbao leading, bringing all the palace attendants and eunuchs to pay respects to him.
"Greetings to His Highness the Crown Prince!"
Each of them knelt properly.
Zhao Xi stood on the white marble steps, looking down at the crowd, "What are you doing?"
Eunuch Sanbao raised his head, chuckling, "Congratulations to Your Highness on becoming the rightful heir of the Eastern Palace."
Zhao Xi said, "I haven’t been formally appointed yet."
"Even without a formal appointment, you’re still the Crown Prince." Eunuch Sanbao grinned widely, then thought of something, "Your Highness is about to move to the Eastern Palace; should the construction of the outer Prince Mansion continue? Is Young Master Song going with us to the Eastern Palace? If he is, what about the big bed? Should it be moved along, left at Yutang Palace, or does Your Highness wish to let Young Master Song out of the palace? Then we can arrange for someone to move the bed to the Song Mansion."
Zhao Xi: "..."
