Chapter 351: Volume One, Chapter 351 – Not Inferior to the Rong Dai of the Past

Volume One, Chapter 351 – Not Inferior to the Rong Dai of the Past

"After you stay here a few days, you'll be just like me. Come to think of it, we haven't seen each other in ages. How come you look so thin?" Yun Shizhuang asked He Wan, looking at her.

She and He Wan weren't very close, but both were royal sisters‑in‑law, and over time they grew familiar, especially since Ling Yuying was close to the Empress and usually not on good terms with her, so at every royal gathering she mostly talked with He Wan.

Between the two there was originally a somewhat genuine yet artificial bond.

He Wan didn't bring up her own matters first; instead she looked at Yun Shizhuang and said, "I heard that the side concubine of your residence was sent to the Zhuangzi?"

Yun Shizhuang felt a bit pleased at the mention, nodded and said, "It was all her own doing, using those despicable low tactics. The Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort discovered it—could she be spared?"

He Wan nodded, looking at Yun Shizhuang, "Our residence is the opposite of yours; I'm the one who's to be sent to the Zhuangzi."

Yun Shizhuang: …

The news truly shocked her. "Is it true?"

He Wan was holding it in tightly, with no one to confide in, and now she was even willing to share some of her thoughts with Yun Shizhuang. She gritted her teeth and said, "Just a month ago, the child in my womb was lost—it was the doing of Concubine Ruan."

Yun Shizhuang's complexion changed; she suppressed a sigh before saying, "I've told you before, a side concubine being overly favored isn't a good thing, and you're too rigid in your scholar‑woman posture. People like us are politely called princess consorts, but in reality we're all the same, all vying for a man."

He Wan listened to Yun Shizhuang's fierce words, her mouth nearly unable to close in shock. Could she really be speaking so unabashedly now?

Seeing He Wan's expression, Yun Shizhuang snorted, "What's the use of face? It only gives others a free advantage. I only realized it later; all that's useless. The only thing that matters is to hold the household's power in one's hands and maintain a good relationship with one's husband. I think I'm already terrible enough; you're even worse than me."

He Wan was left speechless.

When people meet someone worse off than themselves, sympathy easily erupts. After hearing He Wan's story, Yun Shizhuang adopted that mindset and said to her, "At least you're not too foolish and know how to ask for help. But have you really decided to separate?"

He Wan nodded without hesitation, "The day I had a miscarriage, Prince Shou favored the Ruan family, and I gave up. Now I'm thoroughly fed up with him; I simply cannot spend the rest of my life with him."

She even feared that if she still had to sleep beside him, she might, in the middle of the night, be unable to resist killing him.

Yun Shizhuang had never considered separating from Prince Qi; at most, if Prince Qi had no marital affection for her, the two could live completely separate lives.

But, to be honest, although Prince Qi liked Rong Dai a lot, after she married in, he never really neglected or bullied her. Their marital relationship wasn't great but wasn't bad either; they could get by.

Moreover, now that Rong Dai has been sent to the Zhuangzi, and Prince Qi has been admonished by his mother‑in‑law, it's rare that their marriage shows signs of warming up.

She doesn't want to separate.

If she separates from Prince Qi, which prince could she marry?

If she were to spend the rest of her life in a bleak, austere existence, she couldn't bear that hardship, so hearing He Wan speak like this, she actually respects her.

"If you really separate, will your family agree?" Grand Scholar He was a bit old‑fashioned, Yun Shizhuang thought.

"The first marriage is arranged by the father, the second is up to oneself." He Wan said firmly, "When my family married me to Prince Shou I fulfilled my filial duty. Now I can't go on living; if my family still refuses to let me separate, I'll consider myself without a natal family. I have my dowry, and if the Empress doesn't mind, I could find a job at the Weaving Workshop."

"Oh dear, the Empress would certainly not mind. The Weaving Workshop is short of hands right now; if you're willing to come, the Empress would be delighted. You haven't seen that the workshop workers are treated like oxen, yet everyone is happy to work. The Empress's monthly salary is quite generous. If it weren't for the Empress insisting on black‑white shifts, those craftsmen would gladly do double the work for extra pay."

At this point, Yun Shizhuang sighed, "Back then I thought I was a talented woman, looking down on everyone, and there were only a few I could admire. But now, I must say I truly respect the Empress. Do you know where the Weaving Workshop's earnings go? The Empress doesn't even take a single copper coin. I can't believe such generosity exists without seeing it myself. Oh, I forgot to tell you, I also receive a monthly salary here, quite generous. If you come, you won't need to use your dowry; you can support yourself, and we could keep each other company."

He Wan's previously depressed and suppressed mood gradually cleared as Yun Shizhuang chattered on without stopping.

Indeed, there's no insurmountable hurdle in this world; she'll surely live well and show the people of the mansion that she's not just a wooden puppet.

Rong Luoge, having finished listening to Kang Shufei's words, furrowed her brows tightly and, after a while, said, "I didn't expect the situation in the Shou Shou Prince's Mansion's Mansion to be even more severe than I imagined."

The Ruan clan's arrogance is no less than that of the old Rong Dai.

"Exactly, the concubine can't be unaware of the Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort's demeanor." Kang Shufei frowned as she recalled the Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort's expression, "Your Majesty, what is the Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort planning?"

Rong Luoge, also unsure, looked at Kang Shufei and said, "Tomorrow have the Princess Consort Shou come to see me."

Since He Wan said she had something to tell her, and it concerned the Shou Shou Prince's Mansion's Mansion, she couldn't think of what it might be.

Prince Shou had little presence when the Late Emperor was alive, always low‑key. The Virtuous Imperial Noble Consort, like Consort Hui, didn't receive much favor, fearing to anger Consort Ming, and was always preoccupied with the children.

Even during the Late Emperor's severe illness, when Prince Qi and Han Xinglan contested the throne, Prince Shou remained quite honest, so now she can't think of any matter.

That night, when Han Xinglan returned, Rong Luoge discussed the matter with him.

Han Xinglan was startled for a moment, looked at Rong Luoge and asked, "Shou Shou Prince's Mansion's Mansion?"

"Yes, is there something?" Rong Luoge asked Han Xinglan, noticing his odd expression.

Han Xinglan waved his hand, "It's just that today Prince Shou asked me for a few days off."

Rong Luoge was taken aback, "What a coincidence?"

Han Xinglan nodded, "It seems you've taken the Princess Consort Shou out; Prince Shou is probably a bit scared now."

Han Xinglan shook his head and said, "Prince Shou has always been hedonistic, and the affairs of the rear palace are never clear. Even I've heard of his favoritism toward a side concubine, but I never expected the principal consort, Princess Consort Shou, to have such a miserable life in the mansion."