Chapter 350: Volume One, Chapter 350 – Don

Volume One, Chapter 350 – Don't Ask, Asking Brings Tears of Sorrow

He Wan's heart leapt, but she showed no sign on her face, nodded and said, "Your Highness, being able to serve you is my fortune; I am naturally willing. Your Highness, wait a moment—I'll tidy up and then follow you into the palace."

Kang Shufei nodded, and He Wan turned and entered her own room.

Concubine Ruan saw Kang Shufei's expression and knew something might be amiss, immediately signaled someone nearby, who quietly slipped away and, after leaving the door, rushed straight to Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort.

Kang Shufei saw this but said nothing, sat alone on the chair the maid had brought, and solemnly waited for He Wan.

Concubine Ruan, seeing this stance, even though she is usually smooth‑talking, did not dare to speak lightly now.

He Wan emerged quickly, carrying only a simple small bundle; her maid followed behind, bearing it on her back. She walked up to Kang Shufei and smiled, "Sorry to keep Your Highness waiting so long; you may rise now."

Kang Shufei stood, gave He Wan a slight smile, "Let's go."

Concubine Ruan, seeing this, grew a little impatient, wondering why Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort had not yet arrived, stepped forward and, looking at He Wan, said with a smile, "Sister Princess Consort Qi, aren't you waiting for the Prince to return?"

He Wan had not spoken yet; Kang Shufei glanced at her sideways, "What? Concubine Ruan wants me to wait here for Shou Shou Prince's Mansion to return to the mansion?"

Concubine Ruan's face turned pale and she immediately said, "I didn't mean that…"

"Just a side concubine, yet I see you acting as the head of Shou Shou Prince's Mansion's mansion?" Kang Shufei's voice hardened at Concubine Ruan.

Concubine Ruan was stunned, about to explain, when He Wan said directly, "Your Highness may not know, since I married into the household, this Shou Shou Prince's Mansion's mansion has not been under my management as the principal wife."

Concubine Ruan's face darkened, her mind raced, but she said, "Sister Princess Consort Qi, you know the Prince understands your poor health…"

"Before I married, I was perfectly healthy in my natal family, but after entering the Prince's mansion my health declined—truly laughable. Moreover, Concubine Ruan today has a headache, tomorrow a foot ache, yet you never relinquish the great authority in the mansion; indeed you have a good health." He Wan, having set aside years of anger, now refused to endure any longer, looking at Concubine Ruan with open disgust.

"Now that Shufei has arrived, my age has slowed my legs and feet; Shufei, please don't be surprised."

Kang Shufei watched the belated Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort, who was supporting a servant, her expression unchanged, only her smile dimmed a bit, and said, "Having seen Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort, your words truly crush me. The Empress has ordered Princess Consort Shou to go to the Weaving Workshop to help; Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort won't refuse, will you?"

Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort's expression tightened slightly, and she smiled at Kang Shufei, "To serve the Empress is a blessing for our household."

Before Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort could continue, Kang Shufei cut her off, smiling, "Your Highness truly understands; there are matters here I really can't leave undone, so I must take Princess Consort Shou away quickly. You know the Weaving Workshop is truly bustling now, even Princess Consort Qi is helping."

Hearing Kang Shufei mention Princess Consort Qi, Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort's face showed a hint of embarrassment; she could only watch Kang Shufei lead He Wan away.

Kang Shufei led He Wan onto her carriage and said, "The Empress has specifically ordered me to escort Princess Consort Shou out of the mansion, but told your household that she is to go to the Weaving Workshop to help, so she must stay there for several days. Today Your Highness is unavailable to see you; tomorrow she will summon you."

Kang Shufei was merely following orders to fetch people, knew nothing about the affairs of Shou Shou Prince's Mansion's mansion, simply comforted Princess Consort Shou and sent her straight to the Weaving Workshop.

He Wan thanked Kang Shufei, turned to look at the carriage curtain, her eyes involuntarily reddened, and tears fell one by one.

Kang Shufei glanced, her heart softened, and sighed lightly, "The Empress is most kind‑hearted; any grievance Princess Consort Shou has, just tell Your Highness."

He Wan quickly took out a handkerchief, wiped her tears, and apologetically said, "Forgive me, Your Highness, I couldn't help it."

"Everyone has a few sad stories; let the past be past." Kang Shufei thought of when she first entered the palace, her future was uncertain, but with the Empress she knew her path.

"If the Empress is willing to lend a hand to help Princess Consort Shou, she will surely not be lacking later."

Thinking this, Kang Shufei looked at Princess Consort Shou softly, "The practice of favoring a concubine and discarding a wife, Princess Consort Shou, you are not the first to encounter it. Don't blame me for speaking out; I only wish to remind you that if this matter is not properly resolved when you leave Shou Shou Prince's Mansion's mansion, and you return as before, the future will only get worse."

He Wan did not expect Kang Shufei to say these words; she lowered her head slightly, and after a while said, "You've made a joke of me, but I'm not afraid of your ridicule. I don't want to stay with Shou Shou Prince's Mansion any longer; I only want a divorce. Your Highness, since I married here I have hardly had any happy days. When Concubine Ruan entered the mansion I truly fell into hell; these years I have endured, thinking that once I have a child I will ignore how they love each other and just live well with the child, but Concubine Ruan cannot even tolerate my child; I cannot go on. If this continues, in a few years my life will be at stake. Moreover, I cannot let my child simply disappear; I must seek justice for her."

Kang Shufei listened, her angry expression could not be hidden, "Everything you say is true?"

"Every word is true; if I utter even a single falsehood, I shall not meet a good end."

"Princess Consort Shou, don't say such things; I just… I just can't believe it." Kang Shufei said softly, "Every household has a concubine, but none are as arrogant as Concubine Ruan; it's truly excessive."

Princess Consort Shou covered her face and began to cry; when the carriage stopped at the Weaving Workshop she looked at Kang Shufei and said, "Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort, please report to the Empress that I have some matters concerning Shou Shou Prince's Mansion I wish to discuss with Your Highness."

Kang Shufei's expression hardened, and she immediately said, "Very well, I will certainly convey it to Your Highness."

Kang Shufei first settled Princess Consort Shou at the Weaving Workshop—not merely for show, she actually let her accompany Princess Consort Qi to become familiar with the workshop's affairs.

Yun Shizhuang suddenly saw He Wan here, half a day later still dazed; after Kang Shufei left, she stepped forward and softly said to He Wan, "Why are you here too?"

He Wan shook her head, and Yun Shizhuang immediately said, "Come, I'll take you around."

He Wan looked at Yun Shizhuang and softly said, "I heard you arrived at the Weaving Workshop not long ago; I didn't expect you to change so much in such a short time—you're quite different from before."

"Now Princess Consort Qi is no longer as pale and tender, her voice is a bit higher, and her demeanor lacks the lofty aura she once had in the boudoir."

Yun Shizhuang: ……

Don't ask; asking only brings tears of sorrow.