Too high to reach

Chapter 224 Budgeting carefully
The couple got into the car, and Li Jing asked with a smile, "How's it going in the back?"

Mo Yi smiled, “Where there are many women, there’s bound to be some arguments. It’s pretty much the same in both wealthy and humble families. The Fourth Princess, the Ninth Princess, and Princess Yu’an have all come. Oh, and Madam Liu is here too. She came to our house yesterday and to the Crown Prince’s residence today; she’s quite busy.”

And they're all dressed up in flamboyant colors.

Li Jing's expression darkened slightly, and she snorted coldly in her heart without saying a word.

Upon arriving home, Li Jing stayed in the front study, while Mo Yi returned to her own courtyard. As soon as she entered, Mo Yuan slipped in, asking anxiously, "How did it go?"

"How about what?"

"The Crown Prince's residence?"

"It's very big and luxurious. I didn't look at it closely. I just sat for a bit and came back," Mo Yi said casually as the maid took off her coat and removed her jewelry.

Mo Yi, wanting to gossip, said, "Don't even mention it. There's a concubine named Zhang in the Crown Prince's residence who gave birth to two sons for him. As soon as I went in, she inexplicably started attacking me. I'd seen her act arrogantly before, but I'd never spoken to her. She just suddenly came at me! I had to give her a few words in front of everyone... Ha, I lost a lot of face. I guess she really offended her."

"Hey, she's just a concubine. So what if you offend her? Does the Crown Prince's residence have many concubines?"

“More than the prince…” Mo Yi smiled bitterly, “The concubines who welcomed me in, Concubine Zhang, several wives, and even those without rank. To be honest, they were all beautiful, from plump to slender.”

Upon hearing this, Mo Yuan thought, "So many people! The seats must be full, right?" She felt a little disheartened...

She was thinking of the Crown Prince, but she couldn't be completely without any status, could she?
There are so many people, it must be tough to make it through, right? If you can't make it... then there's no point.

For a moment, she had second thoughts.

"These days, see if anyone has asked you about me..."

Mo Yi said irritably, "Don't be too ambitious. No matter how good-looking you are or how smart you are, without a family background and a dowry, you're nothing. Consort Zhang is beautiful, her father and brothers are confidants of the Crown Prince, her dowry is generous, and she has two sons, but even so, she's just a concubine. No matter how arrogant she is, she has to listen to the Crown Princess. Compare yourself... how high can you climb?"

Mo Yuan disagreed, but she didn't argue either.

Mo Yi looked angry. "Zhang Debao... Madam Zhang dotes on her son. Judging from yesterday's reaction, it might actually work out. You're a smart man. Think it over carefully. If Madam Zhang asks, how should you respond? If you refuse, she won't bring it up again!"

"Alright, I understand." Mo Yuan didn't want to talk about it anymore. "Oh, Consort Feng is ill."

"Huh? Really?" Mo Yi was taken aback. "What happened? You were fine yesterday... Did you call a doctor?"

"No, I haven't invited them yet, but do you think you can keep this from me?" Mo Yuan said smugly.

Mo Yi was speechless. "You better behave yourself... Seriously, don't you have any sense of being a dependent?"

Mo Yuan looked at Mo Yi with her pretty eyes and gently shook her head.

"If people find out you're inquiring about these things in your residence..." Mo Yi broke out in a cold sweat, completely forgetting she had this habit. If the Prince found out... "You haven't been doing anything in the residence, have you?"

"No?! I'm being honest. Even Xiangxiang, who used to dislike me, likes talking to me now. Don't worry, I won't let anyone else know!"

"Mo Yuan, I summoned you before I even got to my feet in the manor. I've done right by you! If you cause me any trouble..." Mo Yi's face turned cold.

“My lord, I know these things better than you do! I didn’t specifically inquire about them; I’m just good at observation and deduction…”

How did you make that deduction?

Mo Yuan glanced at her sideways: "There are many things I don't ask you, so don't ask me either. Don't worry, I will never make the prince angry..."

"When do you plan to go back?" Mo Yi asked.

"After the fifteenth, I'll come back..."

"Don't even think about it!" Mo Yi glared at her hatefully, while Mo Yuan laughed heartily.

Consort Feng was indeed ill.

These days have been busy, I haven't been sleeping well, I'm feeling depressed, anxious and angry.

After taking a hot bath yesterday, I lingered for a while before going to bed, and then I woke up with a fever in the middle of the night.

My whole body aches and I feel cold; I can't sleep. After thinking it over, I feel even more alone and helpless.

Her fever hadn't subsided by morning, but initially, she was reluctant to call a doctor. After a while, blisters appeared on her lips. Feeling dizzy and lightheaded, she worried that she wouldn't recover anytime soon... so she made a big fuss and sent someone to fetch the imperial physician.

With such a commotion, the news reached Mo Yi immediately. Mo Yuan winked like a mouse stealing oil, "Didn't I tell you?"

"Does His Highness know?" Mo Yi asked the maid.

As it turned out, Li Jingzheng sent someone to summon her, asking the two of them to go see Consort Feng together.

Mo Yi straightened her clothes slightly and said to Mo Yuan, "Go back to your own courtyard!" She then left.

At the entrance to the garden, Li Jing was waiting for her. When she saw her arrive, he didn't say anything, but walked ahead with one hand behind his back.

Upon arriving at Consort Feng's courtyard, a maid greeted them at the gate, "Your Highness, Your Highness the Princess."

Li Jing remained silent, and Mo Yi asked, "How did it go?"

"The imperial physician has been summoned and is examining the patient!"

The couple went into the main room and sat down. A maid went into the inner room to deliver a message, and they could faintly hear voices.

After a while, Song's mother and another maid accompanied an old doctor out.

Upon seeing Li Jing, several people hurriedly stepped forward and bowed, "Your Highness, Your Highness's Consort."

Li Jing asked, "How is she?"

"Your Highness..." the old doctor said respectfully, "The concubine is fine, just a little tired and has a fever. The temperature difference between inside and outside has caused her to catch a cold. Take two doses of medicine, sweat it out, drink plenty of water, eat some light food, rest in bed, and she will be fine in a few days."

"Then please prescribe a medicine."

The imperial physician prescribed a medicine, and Mama Song took it to get the medicine.

Li Jing said to the maid, "Tell her we're going in to take a look."

The maidservant went in to obey, and came out a moment later saying, "Your Highness, Your Highness's Consort. The concubine says that she is disheveled and her clothes are in disarray, and she fears she might be impolite in front of Her Highness..."

He hesitated to say what he wanted to say next.

Afraid of being impolite in front of me... not afraid of being impolite in front of the prince, huh?

Mo Yi nodded, "Then... let her rest well and take her medicine carefully. You all keep a close eye on her, and if anything happens, send someone to call her immediately." She then turned to Li Jing and said, "Your Highness, please go in and check on her. I'll go back to my room now."

Li Jing nodded, and only went inside after Mo Yi left.

On her way back to her room, Mo Yi felt a little empty. It had almost been a month since she entered the manor. What should she do next?
Although she tried to avoid it, there was always a time when she couldn't avoid it anymore.

At first, she wasn't used to having someone next to her while she slept. Later, she felt his warm, furnace-like body and his even breathing. She could feel his heartbeat when she was close, and she could touch him when she turned over... Now, it's all natural.

Last night, nothing happened between them. His arm was naturally draped over her body, and the tranquility made her sleep soundly.

If one day, he's no longer by her side, and all is empty... then he goes to Consort Feng's room, Consort Tian's room, and the rooms of several other concubines, and becomes intimate with them...

A sudden, sharp pain shot through my heart, and tears streamed down my face. Afraid that someone would see, I quickly wiped them away.

Li Jing entered the inner room, where Consort Feng was lying on the bed, covered with thick blankets, her black hair cascading down her head.

His complexion was a bit yellow, his lips were bloodless, and he had blisters.

"Your Highness..." Consort Feng called him softly, her eyes seemingly filled with tears, looking weak and helpless.

Li Jing sat down beside her bed. "How are you?" he asked in a low voice.

Consort Feng stared at him intently, her hand emerging from under the covers to grasp Li Jing's arm, her voice trembling with emotion. "My lord... I don't know what's wrong, Liniang is so sad. My lord... please don't abandon Liniang..."

"What kind of talk is that?" Li Jing asked.

"I have been very anxious these past few days. You have been back for over a year, but you have only visited the inner courtyard a handful of times. Now that you have a princess, I have very few opportunities to speak with you. I know you are busy, but I am truly heartbroken..."

After saying this, she sobbed softly in despair...