Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

When Song Shulan woke up the next day, he was busy going to court and forgot to go find Princess Rongjia.

On his way back from court, he encountered Huadie and followed her.

Princess Rongjia had been married into the Jiangyuan Marquis's household for so long, and this was the first time Song Shulan had ignored her for a whole day and night.

She didn't sleep well all night. "That bitch Huadie!"

"Princess, please calm down. Just bear with it for now. Things will be better once Huadie has a child," Wang Shanxi's wife quickly advised, knowing that her mistress was in a bad mood.

"She'd better get pregnant soon, or I won't tolerate her!" Princess Rongjia said, taking a deep breath. "She's not even as pretty as Consort Zhao. It's a pity Consort Zhao isn't well, otherwise she could still be useful."

No matter how much she praises Aunt Zhao, a woman who is not good at conceiving, she will not be able to bear children in the end.

As she spoke, Princess Rongjia asked for more hawthorn tea.

Wang Shanxi's wife brewed a fresh batch and handed it over, saying, "Think about it, it's better for the Marquis to go to the Butterfly Painting Studio than to the Autumn Breeze Studio."

Speaking of Qiushuangzhai, Princess Rongjia became even angrier, "Just you wait, there will be a day when she cries."

At this moment, Cui Lingrong was talking to Aunt Yu in the main kitchen.

"The princess's diet hasn't changed much; she still loves sour foods, eating hawthorn and bamboo shoots. A few days ago, she even had the kitchen make braised turtle. But the Marquis is also at Wutong Garden, so perhaps he wants to eat it." Madam Yu had also been pregnant, so she knew what was good to eat and what was bad to eat.

However, the princess's diet did not change much after she became pregnant, which is normal, as she is still in the early stages of pregnancy.

Cui Lingrong said she understood. "Miss He hasn't been feeling well lately. You know she's frail, so please take good care of her meals every day."

"This old servant understands," said Mama Yu.

After her mother left, Qiu's mother felt something was strange, "Why hasn't the princess's taste changed at all?"

"Where's the medicine? Can't you even get a single dreg?" Cui Lingrong asked.

Madam Qiu shook her head and said no, "The medicine for Princess Rongjia is all decocted by Wang Shanxi's wife and Qingxue herself. After it's decocted, all the dregs are poured into the swill bucket and mixed in, so you can't find anything."

Cui Lingrong wanted to try her luck with the dregs of the medicine, but Wutong Garden was like an iron barrel, and she couldn't get her hands in.

Autumn's mother asked, "With our people at Wutong Garden, countless eyes are watching us. Should we find someone who frequently comes and goes from Wutong Garden?"

"You mean painting butterflies?"

"Yes."

"Hua Die is someone we can use, but we can't use her openly. We need to make her work for us without her even knowing it." Cui Lingrong thought for a moment, "Don't I have some red ginseng for pregnancy preservation? Take it to Hua Die and tell her that she has served the Marquis the most and that she should take care of her health."

Autumn's mother immediately understood and took the red ginseng to the Butterfly Painting Courtyard.

Hua Die was overjoyed to learn that the eldest mistress hoped she would have a child, but remembering Wang Shanxi's instructions, she whispered, "The eldest mistress is a good person, but I can't take anything from her. To tell you the truth, Mother, the princess is watching me and won't let me get close to the eldest mistress."

Not everyone has it, so she didn't dare accept it.

She especially remembered the medicine that Princess Rongjia had given her.

"Oh, the eldest mistress is just hoping you'll have a child because you're favored, aunt. Life in this deep mansion is all about having children. Don't blame me for being harsh, aunt, but who can guarantee they'll be favored forever?" Madam Qiu put down the red ginseng. "The princess won't be that petty. Just focus on getting better and try to have a son for the Marquis as soon as possible."

"I……"

"Don't worry, Auntie. Just go to Madam Qiu for whatever the Princess says." When Madam Qiu left, she deliberately walked a little slower.

Not long after, Princess Rongjia learned that Aunt Qiu had gone to find Huadie.

Princess Rongjia was already angry that Huadie was clinging to the Marquis, so she immediately called Huadie over and said, "You've really gained favor now. Even Qiushuangzhai is sending you things. You're so lucky."

"Your Highness, it was the eldest mistress who insisted on giving it to me. I said I didn't want it." Hua Die felt more and more that Princess Rongjia was not as good as the eldest mistress. The eldest mistress was so generous, but Princess Rongjia was questioning her. She had no choice but to kneel down.

"If you firmly refuse, do you think she'll beg and plead to give it to you?" Princess Rongjia sneered. "Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. You're taking advantage of the Marquis's favor, are you planning to ignore my every word?"

Hua Die said she dared not.

Just then, Wang Shanxi's wife brought in the medicine. Princess Rongjia glanced at it, seemingly unwilling to drink it. She dismissed Huadie, saying, "Alright, don't stand here. I'm just reminding you, you're someone who came from my Wutong Garden. Qiushuangzhai can't possibly be genuinely good to you, understand?"

Hua Die said she understood, and walked very fast on her way back.

What do you mean by not being sincere? The eldest mistress would never say such a thing. Once she has a son, let's see who dares to disrespect her.

She stormed back, not seeing the person around the corner, and bumped right into Caixia.

Caixia quickly apologized, "I'm so sorry, I wasn't paying attention. Are you alright?"

Hua Die, recognizing the woman as the eldest mistress's person, wasn't angry. She asked, "Miss Caixia, you're usually the most reliable one, why are you in such a panic today? Didn't you see anyone?"

Caixia gave a bitter smile and remained silent.

Did your grandmother scold you?

Caixia said no, "Grandma is such a good person, how could she scold me? It's a family matter. My sister-in-law is pregnant, but she hasn't been very stable. The usual medications for maintaining a pregnancy don't seem to be working for her, that's why I'm worried."

"So that's how it is. It's a pity I'm just a nobody. Otherwise, with the princess's prescription, your sister-in-law might have gotten better. After all, she's a doctor often used by the Rong Prince's mansion," Huadie sighed.

"Auntie, you're joking. People like us, even if we had the prescription, we couldn't afford those herbs," Caixia said.

"That's true. The princess eats ginseng and deer antler tonics, which are really expensive for ordinary people." At this point, Huadie remembered the princess's instructions and dared not say any more. She hurriedly said that she had to go back.

When Caixia heard about ginseng and deer antler, she wondered if the princess was eating such nourishing foods.

She went back with the information she had gathered.

Cui Lingrong listened thoughtfully and instructed Caixia and Caiyue to keep an eye on things, hoping to get some of the dregs of the medicine.

In the following days, it grew colder and colder in Bianjing.

The sycamore trees in the garden were now bare. The winter clothes for the Marquis's mansion had been prepared and were to be sent to their destinations after being counted by Cui Lingrong.

Caixia was responsible for delivering winter clothes to Wutongyuan. When she returned, she was covered in sweat.

"Oh no... Grandma!" Caixia gasped for breath.

Autumn's mother poured tea. "What's the matter that you're in such a hurry? Calm down before you speak. The sky isn't falling down."

"It's...it's almost like the sky is falling." Caixia didn't have time to drink water. Under the questioning gazes of her grandmother and Qiu Mama, she hurriedly said, "The princess...she miscarried. They say it was Yu-jie who bumped into...bumped into her. The old lady is furious."