Too high to reach

Chapter 302 Virtue Must Match Position
Princess Wenxiu woke up from her afternoon nap.

The maid Qiuxiang tidied her clothes; soon, the female teacher they had invited would be coming to give a lesson.

"Princess, I just heard them say that the Princess Consort went to the estate to escape the summer heat and to check the accounts."

Qiu Xiang waited a while, but when she didn't hear the princess ask, she said again, "But do you know? That estate belongs to your mother. It's for escaping the summer heat... Who isn't hot? I didn't know you were brought along, and that's why she'd be checking the accounts..." She muttered to herself while working.

Princess Wenxiu lowered her eyes and remained silent.

"Xiangxiang, are you ready?" Zhou Jiu came in.

While her master was giving lessons, Zhou Jiu would embroider something beside her to keep her company.

When Qiu Xiang saw Zhou Jiu arrive, she smiled and remained silent.

"What's wrong, Xiangxiang? Didn't you sleep well?" Zhou Jiu asked, noticing that the little girl didn't look well.

Seeing that the princess was about to speak, Qiu Xiang gently nudged her from behind, indicating that she didn't want her to speak.

Princess Wenxiu turned around and glanced at Qiuxiang with a serious expression. Qiuxiang's face turned pale, and she quickly lowered her head.

Zhou Jiu looked at the two of them. "Xiangxiang, what's wrong?"

She said: "The princess went to my mother's dowry estate to escape the summer heat and also wanted to check the accounts."

Zhou Jiu turned to Qiu Xiang: "What do you mean by saying that to the princess?"

Qiu Xiang quickly knelt down, "Ninth Miss, this is what I just heard from the maids in the garden. I'm telling the Princess this as something new. It doesn't mean anything."

"Then why are they telling you all this?" Zhou Jiu became serious. "Are you implying that the princess wants to seize my sister's dowry?"

"This servant wouldn't dare! This servant didn't mean that; I was just telling the princess as a joke."

"Is it funny?"

Zhou Jiu sat down next to Princess Wenxiu: "Leaving aside what kind of person Princess Mo is, with the Prince around, no one can embezzle the Princess's property. And let's talk about Princess Mo. In this world, even biological mothers sometimes make things difficult for their daughters. But in all the time the Princess has been in the household, has she ever mistreated the Princess?"
The princess has a stepmother and a concubine who manages the household; things are already complicated. You maids, think carefully about what you should listen to and what you should say! If you utter any more provocative words, don't blame me for telling the prince to send you all back to the Zhou family!"

"Princess, Ninth Miss, Qiu Xiang was wrong." Qiu Xiang cried, "I won't do it again next time."

"The princess is only this young, just starting to learn from her master. In the future, she will also have to go to a girls' school and socialize. She has so much to do! Not to mention my sister's dowry, she hasn't even had time to manage this courtyard yet. Why are you all talking about this?"

Zhou Jiu was usually so gentle that he was almost weak, so his speech today surprised everyone in the room.

"Mind your own business, stop spreading rumors, and avoid associating with those who might have ulterior motives! Now get out of here!"

All the maids in the room came out. Qiu Xiang went out with a gloomy face, cursing Zhou Jiu in her heart.

"Xiangxiang, your mother's dowry was previously held by Consort Feng. Every year, an account would be given to the Zhou family. The Zhou family never complained... Perhaps it wasn't managed well, or perhaps the person in charge benefited, but the Zhou family didn't find out, so they can't be blamed. This time, if it's really handed over to the Princess, I think it's a good thing."

“I understand.” Princess Wenxiu nodded. “Anyway, I can’t manage it now. When it’s handed over to me in the future, I will definitely find someone who knows how to check the accounts to examine them carefully. If there’s anything I need to say, I will speak directly to my father.”

Zhou Jiu nodded and smiled, "Xiangxiang is really smart. You've taken after your father. The Zhou family... are all clueless about practical matters."

Princess Wenxiu smiled faintly.

“Princess Mo, we’ve known each other for quite some time now,” Zhou Jiu said. “I’ve learned a lot from her. In the past, I wouldn’t have said what she just said.”

Although you are currently in the learning stage, household affairs are also part of the learning process. Aunt Jiu is very poor in this area; she lacks the ability and couldn't adapt to those wealthy and powerful families. That's why when the Prince mentioned Mo Fan, Aunt Jiu agreed. Do you understand now?

Princess Wenxiu thought for a moment and said, "I understand. It's easier to manage a small household, and the Prince's Mansion can also support Ninth Aunt."

Zhou Jiu smiled broadly, "...That's roughly the idea!"

When Mo Yi returned to the manor, Li Jing had not yet returned.

Looking at Consort Feng again, she found herself having a "suspicion of her neighbor stealing an axe" feeling... everything seemed suspicious...

Within two days, Hongyan gathered some information, but not much. "The first and second-class maids who served Princess Zhou are no longer in the manor. One of the first-class maids is dead. There's also one named Afang, who I heard married a merchant and redeemed herself and her mother, going to another place. I don't know exactly where. There's also someone who married back into the Zhou family... Should I go to the Zhou family to inquire?"

"No need for now, let's wait for Granny Zhao to return." None of Hongyan and the others knew anything about Princess Zhou's affairs. Several years had passed, and it was too late to inquire further; lest it disturb someone...

Let's discuss everything when the prince returns.

……

Dongfang returned to the capital and only stayed there for a day before disappearing without a trace. His father wasn't home either; no one knew what the father and son had gone off to.

After the Empress returned to the capital, she devoted herself to getting the princess divorced.

Princess Yu'an stayed in her residence and never went out, only sending her subordinates out to gather information, as if she were possessed.

The Empress had no choice but to look for the Crown Prince again, but the Crown Prince was busy with something and disappeared after the court session.

Immediately afterwards, Consort Zhang, who was being treated for burns at the estate, did not survive and died.

Then, the Zhang family's daughter entered the mansion under the pretext of taking care of Consort Zhang's two sons, but her true identity was not yet revealed.

The Crown Princess touched her belly and gently shook her head... The Crown Prince used to dote on Consort Zhang so much; she was the mother of two of his sons.

And then they actually did it...

The Zhang family, though they did much for the Crown Prince, also gained considerable benefits by clinging to him. Consort Zhang was the bridge between them. And that bridge could be severed so easily…

She harmed herself so much, and all I did was punish her, halting her upward trajectory, but ultimately not taking her life. My heart... is still not as ruthless as theirs...

Suddenly, I feel that it wouldn't be bad if this baby were a girl. At least I wouldn't have to face the bloody struggle for her in the future. That kind of struggle begins the moment she's born, and it's completely beyond my control...

Thinking like this made me feel very depressed.

Pregnancy is already uncomfortable enough, and this time, I really did fall ill.

Mo Yuan did two significant things. One was something the Crown Prince had been busy with recently: making her a concubine.

Another thing she did was buy Xiao Shuan'er's parents. After his father was injured, she was afraid that doing heavy work would be harmful.

Then, they bought a donkey and a cart. They made him work exclusively for them. They could also have him run errands for their parents.

Later, I'll talk to Mo Yi about helping her haul goods and earn some extra cash...

This moved Xiao Shuan to tears.

This is no small gesture, because Mo Yuan realized that having Xiao Shuan here might come in very handy someday.

It's not like we can't afford it now!
Hearing that the Crown Princess was not feeling well, she gracefully arrived.

"Are you not feeling well?" she asked, her bright, clear eyes looking at the Crown Princess.

"It's nothing serious, I'm just feeling a bit down."

"Have the kitchen make some sweet osmanthus rice wine, with an egg poached inside, cooked until very soft and juicy. Also add some goji berries. It's good for replenishing qi and blood. When qi and blood are sufficient, your mood will be better!"

"Mo Yuan, Consort Zhang is gone, are you happy?" Normally, the Crown Princess shouldn't ask such a question.

But seeing that Mo Yuan was still talking about even the smallest things with great enthusiasm, she wanted to know what she was thinking.

"Hey!" Mo Yuan said dismissively, "Your Majesty, her death was inevitable! Well... it's inevitable for everyone... What I'm saying is: she's too arrogant. Arrogant for no reason... Why does she always try to compete with you? Why does she always try to put me down? It's completely unnecessary!"

The Crown Princess was in a good mood as she listened to her ramblings.

“Someone like you is a true lady of high birth. A standard Crown Princess. You're impeccable in every way! And she, well, she only has two sons. But you have to say, who can't have sons? You're about to have one yourself, aren't you? A person should be in a position according to their character. Virtue must match one's position!”

"Mo Yuan, don't you feel guilty saying that?" The Crown Princess almost laughed out of anger. She thought to herself, what are you doing going back and forth in the garden all day?
"Hehe...Your Majesty, you don't understand. I have ambition, but I am not arrogant."

The Crown Princess giggled...