Four Seasons Brocade – CH 176

Chapter 176 ☆、

Ah Wu’s gait was still somewhat strange due to the injury to her leg; she dared not close her legs. Early in the morning, the concubines came to pay their respects as usual, no different from any other morning.

Only the newly arrived Lady You looked thoughtfully at Ah Wu’s legs, her eyes lowered.

Back at Tanhua Courtyard, You Yi-niang went to Xu Yi-niang’s room to speak with her. The two had participated in the palace selection together and were both assigned to Prince Qi’s mansion, so it was inevitable that they would grow closer, much like Gongsun Lan and Ouyang Zhi.

“Sister Xu, what kind of person do you think the Prince is?” You Yundan asked Xu Yi-niang innocently.

Xu Yi-niang paused, her hands still embroidering the shoe uppers. “I’ve never even seen the Prince; how would I know?”

“Sigh, we’ve been here for so many days, and the Prince has not come to Tanhua Courtyard yet.” You Yundan frowned slightly, biting her finger. “The Prince really dotes on the Princess. I heard yesterday was her birthday, and he specially took her to the other courtyard to celebrate.”

Xu Yi-niang picked up her needle and combed it in her hair, continuing her embroidery with her head down. She heard You Yundan chuckle, “However, I heard the Prince sleeps in Bingxue Forest every night.”

Xu Yi-niang hummed in agreement, her needlework ceasing. She remained composed; after all, the Fourth Prince would be their husband, their everything. Naturally, she shared You Yundan’s concern for Prince Qi. It was truly strange, though. Everyone in this mansion—whether it was the Princess, the concubines, or even these lowly women—was quite beautiful, yet Prince Qi never set foot in their rooms, nor did he stay overnight in Yulan Hall. Even a beauty as stunning as the Princess…

Thinking of this, Xu Yi-niang accidentally pricked her hand with the needle, drawing blood. She quickly sucked on it, then looked at You Yundan and carefully chose her words: “Could it be that His Highness…”

Xu Yi-niang was the daughter of the magistrate of Yajiang County. One of her cousins ​​was fond of playing with young boys, and the main wife in the mansion was often left alone, in her mid-twenties, without a child. Thinking of this, Xu Yi-niang also remembered that Prince Qi was also in his twenties and childless.

“No!” You Yundan said confidently. Xu Yi-niang was still a virgin; she naturally did not understand such things. She herself had been involved with such men, but seeing the Princess’s demeanor today, she felt reassured.

You Yundan was the daughter of a tutor in Nanping. Ironically, her father was in charge of the county’s Confucian academy, yet she had a secret affair with her cousin. Aside from not revealing their relationship, they were intimate and affectionate in every way imaginable, so naturally, she knew more than Xu Yi-niang.

“Sister Xu, did you not make a pair of shoes for the Princess a couple of days ago? Let’s deliver them to her tonight,” You Yundan said, looking at Xu Yi-niang.

Xu Yi-niang hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

“Princess, Concubine Xu and Concubine You have come. They say they’ve brought something for you,” Zi-Shan reported to Ah Wu.

“Let them in,” Ah Wu said, putting down her book.

Xu Yi-niang and You Yi-niang, one taciturn, the other lively, You Yi-niang had not stopped talking since she entered, telling many amusing stories about her hometown. Ah Wu listened with a faint smile.

Xu Yi-niang secretly observed Ah Wu. A deep green gemstone dangled from her ear, its shimmering light further accentuating her flawless, porcelain-like skin. Her face was as smooth as egg white, with a perfectly shaped nose and cherry-pink lips. From every angle, she was breathtakingly beautiful. The noble elegance she exuded was something no one could imitate.

Already possessing unparalleled beauty, and with her father holding a high position and being the Prince Qi’s teacher, the light in Xu Yi-niang’s eyes dimmed slightly.

You Yundan, while speaking, also secretly observed the Princess. She admitted in her heart that Ah Wu was breathtakingly beautiful, but unlike Xu Yi-niang, she was not disheartened. Men were not only attracted to physical beauty. In terms of looks, her eldest sister was more beautiful than her and had also been in love with her cousin, but in the end, her cousin still preferred someone like her.

As You Yi-niang was still speaking, a series of announcements came from outside: “The Prince is back!”

Both Xu Yi-niang and You Yi-niang stood up. Although You Yi-niang kept her head down, she puffed out her high, firm breasts. Ah Wu’s eyes were drawn to her by this movement, and something flashed through her mind; a blush involuntarily spread across her face.

As soon as Chu Mao entered, he noticed the blush on Ah Wu’s ears, a blush that seemed to emanate from white jade, exceptionally beautiful. He could not resist the urge to pinch it, but then he heard two sweet “Your Highness” sounds, and he stopped.

Ah Wu, rarely noticing a hint of confusion in Chu Mao’s eyes, smiled and said, “Your Highness, these are Concubines Xu and You, who recently entered the household.”

Chu Mao disliked the strong scent of perfume. “Did I not tell you not to come and serve me tonight?”

Xu Yi-niang blushed, lowering her head and remaining silent. She never expected Prince Qi to be so handsome; all the men she had seen combined could not compare to a single finger of his.

You Yi-niang, being more experienced than Xu Yi-niang, had her alluring eyes brimming with desire, gazing intently at Chu Mao, as if trying to etch him into her very being. This man’s charm instantly made her forget her amorous cousin. “Your Highness, we’ve come to deliver shoes to the Princess Consort.”

Ah Wu glanced at You Yi-niang, smiling but remaining silent. Everyone in the room could see through her little scheme. Why choose this hour when there was so much time in the day?

“Go back, both of you,” Chu Mao said, ignoring You Yi-niang’s words.

You Yi-niang opened her mouth to speak, but Xu Yi-niang tugged at her sleeve, forcing her to stop. The two bowed and took their leave.

Outside, Zi-Shan muttered a low “Pah! Shameless! She practically twisted her waist off.”

Inside, Ah Wu, hearing this, wished she could plug her ears. Looking at Chu Mao, whose face held a half-smile, she realized that You Yi-niang’s twisting was indeed a bit exaggerated, making Ah Wu blush for her.

Chu Mao glanced at Ah Wu. Her waist was slender and delicate, her hips not as full as You Yi-niang’s but graceful and shapely, without any heaviness. Those two white mounds, he could easily grasp in one hand, and he longed to take a bite.

“Did you eat the milk papaya I had Lu Ruoxing send you?” Chu Mao asked.

Ah Wu was just about to ask about this when she wondered why Prince Qi had suddenly sent this dessert. “I’ve eaten it,” she said. “It’s extremely well-made, and the milk does not have any gamey taste. Why did Your Highness think of sending me this?”

“I’ve heard that milk is good for the skin, calms the nerves, and soothes the stomach, just like the human milk drunk in the palace.” The Great Xia Dynasty’s royal family had a special milk-producing household, employing wet nurses specifically for the palace masters. “If you want to drink human milk, you can have someone find a wet nurse.”

Ah Wu’s face was now as red as a sunset. “I do not want to drink that!” Prince Qi’s wild behavior yesterday was just like a baby suckling at its mother’s breast.

If Ah Wu dared to look at Chu Mao right now, she would have noticed that Prince Qi’s ears were also red. However, he was not thinking about the wet nurse; instead, a sliver of longing rose in his heart. If Ah Wu did not have to breastfeed after giving birth, that would be nice…

“By the way, Shen Hejing is going to Jiangnan. Is there anything you need from there? The embroiderers in Jiangnan are quite good. I will have him invite a few back to make shoes and socks for you,” Chu Mao said.

Ah Wu knew Shen Hejing; he was one of Chu Mao’s advisors, and later, during the Zhengyuan Dynasty, he rose to the position of governor-general. He was Chu Mao’s confidant, and she wondered what his purpose was in going to Jiangnan. However, Chu Mao’s mention of shoes and socks suggested that he disliked the excuse used by Xu Yi-niang and You Yi-niang to come today.

“That’s fine,” Ah Wu nodded. Her clothes were usually made and sent over by Cui Ji and Four Seasons Brocade, and her inner garments were made by Zi-Shan and a few others. Now that he would invite embroiderers back to make them, it was quite nice.

“My elder brother is getting married in a few days. Your Highness, would you have time to accompany me back to Willow Tree Alley?” The Rong family’s gate opened onto Willow Tree Alley. Ah Wu asked Chu Mao this, partly to save face for Rong Jie.

“Of course, I will go to my brother-in-law’s wedding, but I am afraid I will not be able to stay long,” Chu Mao replied.

Ah Wu knew that Princes were forbidden from associating with outside officials. Although the Rong family was related by marriage, Chu Mao’s status was still sensitive. Returning in private was fine, but at such a grand banquet, a brief visit would suffice. It would save the guests from kneeling and bowing and being overly concerned about his status, which would only make the meal less enjoyable.

After the Dragon Boat Festival, the sun was scorching. On Rong Jie’s wedding day, Ah Wu wore a primrose-colored, light-colored silk palace dress with a peony pattern, her hair styled in a double-looped bun adorned with a gold hairpin inlaid with eight treasures and pearls, and a pink silk peony in the back. She wore the pair of pearl earrings Chu Mao had given her previously; her fair skin made even the pearls seem less vibrant.

As Chu Mao helped her into the carriage, he chuckled, “Be careful not to steal the bride’s thunder.”

Upon arriving at the Rong Mansion, Chu Mao indeed only made a brief appearance before returning to his own palace. Ah Wu, naturally, waited until the newlyweds had completed their wedding ceremony that evening before going home.

Lady Cui had been eagerly anticipating this day for many days. She was never good at managing the household, and while Ah Wu was fortunate to have Lady Cui’s help at home, the days since Ah Wu’s marriage had caused Lady Cui no end of worry. Today, finally, her eldest daughter-in-law had arrived, and how could she not be happy? Her face was radiant, and she even gave Ah Wu a friendly look.

However, ever since Chu Mao’s secret meeting with Lady Cui, Lady Cui had never given Ah Wu a kind look. Every time she sent something to the Prince’s Mansion, it was always a tonic for nourishing yin.

Ah Wu arrived early that day, and Lady Cui seized the opportunity to pull her aside and ask, “Is it still that Nanny Hao managing the household in the Prince’s Mansion?”

Ah Wu nodded.

Lady Cui was furious. “Oh, what can I say to you? Can you and the Fourth Prince not get along well?”

“How have I not gotten along well with His Highness? What exactly did His Highness say to you last time?” Ah Wu asked.

Lady Cui avoided answering, “Wan’er gave birth to a son, did you know?”

Ah Wu nodded. She had sent gifts over for the baby’s third-day celebration, but since it was not the legitimate son, Ah Wu did not need to attend.

“No matter what difficulties a woman faces, the most important thing is to give birth to a son, did you know that?” Lady Cui stared intently at Ah Wu.

Although Lady Cui’s questions were rambling and seemingly nonsensical, Ah Wu still understood her meaning. She meant that without a son, she could not even manage the internal affairs of the Prince’s mansion, while Rong Wan was remarkable; having given birth to a son, even the formidable Sixth Princess, Lady Herui, could not defeat her.

Ah Wu dreaded hearing Lady Cui nag about these things. “Madam,” she said, “let’s go outside. My elder brother is getting married today; we have many guests to entertain. Let’s discuss this further tomorrow, shall we?”