Chapter 214: Chapter 196: Former Princess Consort Ping_1
At the Yan Residence’s front courtyard, Yan Zhigao and a host of colleagues and friends were lively as they enjoyed yellow wine and feasted on hairy crabs.
In the back courtyard of the Yan Family, Madam Li was leading a group of ladies who also ate with great joy.
Because there was an abundance of hairy crabs sent over, Madam Li had sent out cards to a few neighbors who were on good terms with them, and at this moment, ladies from each household were gathered at the old lady’s side, telling jokes and amusing stories while slowly savoring the crab roe, crab cream, and crab meat.
In Shuangxin Courtyard, Auntie Lin leaned against the door of her room, listening to the laughter coming from Songhe Courtyard. She touched her now visible pregnant belly with a face full of desolation.
The happiness and bustle of the Yan Family, even though she had born two children and was now pregnant with another, had nothing to do with her.
As the status of the Yan Residence rose, the distinction between the wife and concubines became increasingly evident.
Nowadays, her brother could no longer freely enter the back courtyard. To come in, he must first inform Madam in advance and, only with Madam’s permission, could he enter, accompanied by a matron at his side.
It was now that she truly felt the sorrow of being a concubine.
In the west wing room, Madam Liao sat by the window, quietly embroidering a sachet. She glanced at Auntie Lin and a hint of sarcasm appeared at the corner of her mouth before she lowered her head to continue her work.
Long ago, she had realized a truth, that one must accept their fate.
From the first time she saw Auntie Lin, she knew she was a person discontent with her lot in life, yet without the luck or means to change it.
Logically, a concubine who could have three children should be considered blessed, a situation hardly dared to be hoped for in some prestigious families.
If her luck were a bit better, her methods a bit more powerful, she might actually have managed to turn her life around.
What a pity, she encountered an even more fortunate Madam.
The three children born to the Madam were exceptional. As long as they were around, Auntie Lin should not harbor any other hopes, thinking about it was in vain.
At that moment, Xue, the maid, entered the room with a food box, smiling.
“Auntie, since it’s the Mid-Autumn Festival today, Madam has asked the kitchen to prepare extra dishes, and later, you can also get two plates of mooncakes.”
Madam Liao looked at the dishes and smiled.
She was very content with life at the Yan Residence, even though the master had never visited her room, Madam had never mistreated her.
She knew that, with her background and origins, only by behaving properly could she have a life to live.
For this, she had not a single complaint, even though she was not yet twenty years old.
Compared to the other sisters who were tormented to death or sold by their official wives, she was indeed far luckier.
Madam Liao put down her embroidery hoop and said to Xue with a smile, “You should go have your meal too!”
….
At the main peak of Wuhua Mountain.
Inside the temporary palace, Xiao Yeyang also feasted on hairy crabs with Dong Yuanxuan and others.
As Yan Wenkai roughly cracked open the large claws of the hairy crabs, he nudged Dong Yuanxuan with his elbow and whispered, “What’s up with the Little Prince, insisting on spending the Mid-Autumn Festival here at the temporary palace?”
His suggestion to go to their place had been declined.
Dong Yuanxuan glanced at Yan Wenkai, who was covered in grime, with some distaste, then turned to look at the composed Xiao Yeyang, and said with deep meaning, “Mid-Autumn Festival is naturally a time to spend with family.”
Yan Wenkai was somewhat puzzled.
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“The Little Prince’s family is in Beijing, what does that have to do with celebrating the Mid-Autumn festival in the traveling palace?”
He wanted to ask more, but Dong Yuanxuan had already picked up his wine cup and joined his elder brother and Zhou Chengye in drinking games.
At the same time, atop the main peak at Meilin Villa.
“Is this the mooncake that Yangyang sent?”
Xiao Yeyang’s uncle, Governor Guo, stared at the mooncakes on the table with surprise.
Across from him, a beautifully dressed lady glanced at him disdainfully and said irritably, “Yangyang sent me some mooncakes, is that really so surprising?”
Although still somewhat shocked, Governor Guo responded, “No, it’s just that the child’s attitude towards you before was…” He paused and glanced at his sister’s expression. Seeing that she was calm, he continued.
“The boy used to get furious even if someone mentioned you, and now he’s suddenly changed? He’s even taking the initiative to send you things?”
The beautiful woman was Governor Guo’s sister, Guo Ruomei, the former Princess Consort of the estranged Prince, Xiao Yeyang’s biological mother.
Recalling the reports from her people, Guo Ruomei laughed softly, “Maybe he’s had a change of heart. Ever since the Dragon Boat Festival, the child has occasionally been sending me things.”
Although Governor Guo was surprised, he was genuinely happy about his nephew’s change. His sister might never have shown herself to her nephew since leaving the Prince Residence, but she certainly followed his growth in secret.
A mother’s love is transparent to heaven and earth.
“Previously, Yangyang said he wanted to stay and study at Wangyue Academy, and I thought it wasn’t a good idea, but now it seems that it has turned out to be a blessing in disguise. If it can lead to a reconciliation between mother and son, what does it matter that you’re removed from the circles of Beijing?”
At the mention of Beijing, a cold glint flashed in Guo Ruomei’s eyes.
If it weren’t for certain people with ulterior motives constantly speaking ill of her to her son, would he have become so estranged from her, unwilling to even see her face?
Seeing his sister knit her brows once more, Governor Guo knew she must be thinking of certain people in Beijing. He quickly switched the subject with a laugh, “These mooncakes are quite unique, everyone else has flowers, but these are pig heads.”
At these words, Guo Ruomei couldn’t help but laugh, “What’s wrong with pig heads? I think they’re quite adorable.”
Feeling distressed about his sister’s taste but wanting to be supportive, Governor Guo tried a piece, “Hmm, it tastes good.”
After saying that, he quickly finished the piece in his hand and reached for a second.
“Snap!”
Guo Ruomei slapped Governor Guo’s hand away, complaining, “Yangyang sent these for me, you’ve already had one piece, no more for you.”
Watching his sister guard her food jealously, Governor Guo didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, muttering, “It’s just a mooncake, is it really worth making such a fuss?”
Guo Ruomei had the servant take the mooncakes away before saying, “There are only eight pieces. Who knows how long I’ll have to wait before I can eat something sent by Yangyang again, so I need to save them.”
Hearing this, Governor Guo felt a pang in his heart and sighed, “Your temperament is too fiery. If you had been more tolerant back then, there wouldn’t be a need to hoard things sent by your own son like this.”
Guo Ruomei let out a cold laugh, “If I could do it over, I would still choose to part ways. It’s just that my Yangyang has suffered.” After speaking, she looked at Governor Guo with an apologetic expression.
“And I’ve troubled the Guo Family.”
Governor Guo waved his hand, “The fault isn’t yours. It was the Prince who wronged you first, and his conduct was unbecoming. The emperor knows this, so these years, he has treated both the Guo Family and Yangyang quite well.”
“The Empress Dowager, too, clenched her teeth and refused to approve Ma Family’s elevation as the legal Princess Consort of the estranged Prince. To this day, Madame Ma is just a consort, and her son is still just a bastard.”
A sardonic smile played on Guo Ruomei’s lips, but she said nothing.
Whether it’s the emperor or the Empress Dowager, their actions are all about maintaining their own interests.
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