Four Seasons Brocade – CH 191

Chapter 191 ☆、

“The Princess Consort likely already knows about Gongsun Yi-niang’s matter. With the Princess Consort absent, this old woman dares not act on her own. Now, I humbly request the Princess Consort’s instructions on how to deal with Gongsun Yi-niang,” Nanny Hao stated bluntly.

Ah Wu thought for a moment and said, “I will discuss it with His Highness before deciding what to do.”

Nanny Hao glanced at Ah Wu. “The Princess Consort is kind-hearted, which is a blessing for the whole household. However, Gongsun Yi-niang has been having an affair and has conceived an illegitimate child. If this is not dealt with severely, I am afraid the servants in the household will be difficult to manage in the future. If another scandal breaks out, it will damage the reputations of His Highness and the Princess Consort.”

Nanny Hao believed that as the Princess Consort, Ah Wu had complete authority over Gongsun Yi-niang’s affairs. Even if it meant taking her life, the Fourth Prince would not utter a word. Her excuse of discussing it with His Highness was clearly an attempt to plead for leniency.

Ah Wu smiled. Nanny Hao had actually seen through her thoughts; she was indeed remarkable. No wonder she had managed to protect Chu Mao and help him grow up alive in the palace. However, Nanny Hao’s words also made sense, and Ah Wu could not refute them. Putting herself in his shoes, Gongsun Lan had been living a life of widowhood with Chu Mao for so many years. Meeting a man who truly cared for her and showed her compassion, it was not entirely unreasonable for her to make a grave mistake in a moment of madness.

“I will discuss it with His Highness.” Ah Wu’s decision was not to be questioned, not even by Nanny Hao. So even though she agreed with Nanny Hao’s opinion, she did not want such a confrontation to happen again.

After being gently refused by Ah Wu, Nanny Hao remained silent, her face stern, before taking her leave.

More than ten days after returning to the capital, Ah Wu finally saw Chu Mao enter the gates of Yulan Hall. “Your Highness,” Ah Wu greeted him joyfully, rising to her feet.

Chu Mao stood at the doorway, scrutinizing Ah Wu for a moment, then smiled and said, “Your complexion has improved somewhat.”

Ah Wu helped Chu Mao remove his black sable cloak, then wrung out a towel to wipe his hands. Wen-Mei helped Chu Mao remove his waterproof boots and change into soft-soled cloth shoes for indoor use.

Ah Wu took the celadon teacup from Zi-Shan, which was presented to her, and handed it to Chu Mao, saying, “This is snow bud tea brewed with plum blossom snow from last year’s jar. Your Highness, please try it.”

Chu Mao took a couple of sips and immediately felt refreshed. Outside, heavy snow was falling, chilling to the bone, but upon entering the room, he was greeted by warmth, a gentle fragrance, and soft, caring words—everything exuded tenderness and thoughtfulness, instantly brightening even the most gloomy mood.

After a flurry of activity, Ah Wu finally sat down opposite Chu Mao and asked, “Has the matter in court been settled?”

“Merits and demerits cancel each other out.” Chu Mao blew on his teacup and gently skimmed the floating tea leaves with the porcelain lid.

Ah Wu paused, then smiled. “That’s excellent. As long as Your Highness is safe, I am content. Besides, Your Highness did what you wanted to do in Luobei. Even if the court does not bestow any favors, it’s not a big deal.”

“Ah Wu, are you comforting me?” Chu Mao’s lips curled slightly.

Under Chu Mao’s gaze, Ah Wu blushed, as if she had made a huge fool of herself. She turned her head away and pouted, “Your Highness has your own plans; there’s no need for my comfort.”

Chu Mao smiled and took another sip of tea.

Ah Wu stole a glance at Prince Qi, inwardly surprised. She had expected Chu Mao to playfully pinch her nose as a sign of affection, but he simply sipped his tea in silence.

Ah Wu’s eyes darted around, and her voice softened further as she said, “Your Highness has finally met your cousin. How come I’ve never heard Your Highness mention such a relative before?”

“She is indeed my cousin. She came alone to seek refuge and has endured many hardships. Please take good care of her,” Chu Mao said, his faint smile revealing no emotion. Ah Wu scrutinized his expression inch by inch but found no clue.

However, if this Cousin Yuan were not so beautiful, or if Chu Mao had not said such things, Ah Wu might have genuinely cared for Yuan Rongmeng. But Ah Wu was naturally petty and could not stand anyone more beautiful than herself.

However, the more suspicious a person like Ah Wu was, the less outwardly they showed it. She projected her own feelings onto Chu Mao, thinking that the more he cared, the less he would show it. Therefore, she listed his Cousin Yuan as the number one person she needed to be wary of, even ranking Nanny Hao second.

“Your Highness need not give any orders. I will treat your cousin like family,” Ah Wu said with a smile. “It’s just that I see she’s not young anymore. Today I asked if your uncle and aunt had arranged a marriage for her when they were alive, but she shook her head. I am thinking that in the future, when I go out, I should take her out more often and find her a good marriage so that your uncle and aunt will not blame us in the afterlife.”

Ah Wu did not miss a single expression on Chu Mao’s face, but she was utterly disappointed. Chu Mao showed no reaction when she called out to his uncle and aunt and did not seem to have any grudge. She really did not know why he had not taken care of this relative before.

“No need. Those women in the capital are sharp-eyed and sharp-tongued. Meng-niang is sensitive and might not be able to adapt. I’ve already asked my aunt to find her a governess to teach her.”

After all, they were blood cousins. Ah Wu had never seen Chu Mao so devoted to a woman. The fire of suspicion in her heart burned brighter. Although Yuan Rongmeng would at most become a concubine if she married into the family, if she joined forces with Nanny Hao, Ah Wu did not think she had more than a 50% chance of winning. Husbands and wives might have different dreams, but blood relatives were still connected by blood.

“Alright.” Ah Wu’s smile was slightly stiff. Finding a governess? Was that not like raising a celestial being? Ah Wu felt a pang of jealousy. “Is Lady He going to be brought back to the mansion?”

“No need,” Chu Mao answered firmly, without explaining why.

Ah Wu was inwardly annoyed. Everything required guessing, but she had to hide her anger and softly asked, “Your Highness, what do you think should be done with Gongsun Yi-niang?”

“You decide,” Chu Mao said, rising and calling for Wen-Mei to help him change his shoes.

“Will Your Highness not have dinner here?” Ah Wu asked, standing up.

The snow outside was falling heavier and heavier, the rooftops opposite already covered in a layer of white. Ah Wu saw Chu Mao to the door, watching as Wen-Mei added a raincoat over his cloak.

“Go inside,” Chu Mao said. “Be careful not to get cold.”

His words still conveyed concern, yet it felt as if a thousand miles separated them. Ah Wu should have liked this quiet mutual respect; Chu Mao no longer made any unnecessary advances. But the feeling in her heart was indescribable; she suddenly disliked this coldness.

“Your Highness, please do not be too distressed. Your health is paramount. Tonight, I will have Zi-Zhui make some beef bone soup and send it to you. Please have some.” Ah Wu spoke to Chu Mao with the tenderness of a loving wife.

Chu Mao nodded.

Turning to Zi-Shan, Ah Wu instructed, “Go and see where His Highness has gone.”

A short while later, Zi-Shan returned and said, “His Highness went to Hongyao Villa. It seems he will be having dinner there.”

Ah Wu’s eyes suddenly stung, and she almost burst into tears. This had caught her completely off guard. That evening, to comfort herself, she deliberately ate half a bowl of extra rice, telling herself that she enjoyed her meal more when Prince Qi was not around.

The next day, Ah Wu went to Linglong Pavilion early in the morning. Although the name Linglong Pavilion sounded nice, it was located in a corner of Xiangsi Garden and was rarely visited. As a result, it appeared gloomy and old, and the servants did not clean it very well because none of the masters came here.

“Unlock it,” Zi-Shan said to the old woman guarding Gongsun Lan.

The old woman had seen Ah Wu from afar and knew she was Princess Qi. She hurried forward to greet her, quickly opened the door, and said with a cautious, ingratiating smile, “Princess, please be careful of the threshold.”

Ah Wu frowned as soon as she stepped inside, overwhelmed by the musty smell.

The old woman darted past Ah Wu, wiped the chairs in the room with her sleeve, and said, “Please sit, Princess.” Then she turned and shouted into the room, “Gongsun Yi-niang, come out and greet the Princess!”

Ah Wu disliked the old woman’s rudeness and frowned.

“What are you shouting about? Be careful not to startle the Princess,” Zi-Shan glared at the old woman, took her handkerchief, spread it on the embroidered stool, and then helped Ah Wu to sit down.

Gongsun Lan walked out slowly, head bowed. Her belly was slightly protruding, her pregnancy evident. Her once slender waist was now thinner than paper. Her face was pale, but her hair was neatly combed, and her clothes were clean. Her expression was blank; she probably knew she was doomed, and these days were merely stolen moments of life.

Gongsun Lan walked to Ah Wu, knelt, her hands protecting her belly. She neither begged for mercy nor looked up, simply kneeling silently. Throughout her life, she had been nothing more than a lowly dancer, entertaining others with her dances. Entering Prince Qi’s mansion was like falling into a tomb of the dead. She felt that having loved once was not a loss, only pitying the child in her womb. It would be a blessing if the child were born into the womb of a Princess.

Ah Wu glanced at the old woman, who was still oblivious, lingering in the room, trying to ingratiate herself with the maids, including Zi-Shan. No wonder she was assigned to serve here with such a lack of social awareness.

“You can go out now. We will call you if anything happens here,” Ah Wu said softly.

The old woman left with a beaming smile, finding the Princess much kinder and less aloof than the other half-baked mistresses. No wonder she was made a Princess.

Ah Wu covered her nose with a handkerchief and said, “Gongsun, you have committed adultery. You should be drowned in a pig cage, but considering you are pregnant, and Heaven has a benevolent heart, the child is innocent. Today, I will banish you and expel you from the mansion for the rest of your life, forbidding you from ever setting foot in the capital again. Do you accept this?”

Gongsun Lan suddenly raised her head, hardly believing her ears. She murmured, “Princess…” Tears welled up in her eyes. Even though she was as thin as skin and bones, her former beauty and elegance were still evident.

Ah Wu did not do this for Gongsun Lan’s gratitude. She had no liking for such a betrayer; sparing her was merely a small act, a way to accumulate good karma for herself.

Ah Wu had two old women escort Gongsun Lan onto a carriage and send her out of the city. Whether Gongsun Lan would survive alone with her child, or whether she would be able to reunite with her lover, was up to fate.