Chapter 123: How did Li Qingzhu end up with Prince Yun?

"Rouer, what are you saying?"

Prince Yun, overjoyed, shoved Li Qingzhu's hand aside and rushed toward Cao Rou'er.

Cao Rou'er put on a coy look: "I too only just returned to my natal home today and thus learned of this matter. I've felt queasy for the past few days, unable to eat anything, but I dared not alarm anyone, so today I returned home and had my father summon a physician."

"My lord, I am carrying your child; it's been almost two months."

Prince Yun, astonished and delighted, pulled Cao Rou'er into a tight embrace.

"Rouer, wonderful! You truly are my good Rouer!"

No wonder Prince Yun was so overjoyed.

He had been married to the Princess Consort of Prince Yun for four years, and with his side consorts and concubines he numbered five in all, yet nowadays his offspring are few—he has only one son and three daughters.

Although the heir was born to the principal consort, as a princely lord he has only one son!

Therefore, if Cao Rou'er's womb holds a son of secondary rank, to him that would be great joy!

"Rouer, bear me a son, and I shall richly reward you!"

Cao Rou'er, blushing, leaned into Prince Yun's embrace: "Yes, my lord. I will do my utmost…"

Cao Rou'er was personally helped up by Prince Yun, gentle and considerate.

Li Qingzhu, watching this from the side, had pinched her palms until they broke.

Her heart felt as if it were being sliced by a knife.

Yet she dared not let another tear fall.

She well knew that if she now caused a scene out of jealousy, she would be provoking Prince Yun's disfavor.

Even if he loved her again, what would it matter?

He would likely fly into a rage and scold her for being senseless.

But to let her watch him here, lovey-dovey with another woman, talking about offspring—this is nothing less than slow torture!

Li Qingzhu glared fiercely at Cao Rou'er, wishing in her heart to hack her to pieces.

Bear a son?

Heh, if she can't even keep her child, just see how she'll ever win the prince's favor!

Just as Li Qingzhu was about to step forward half a pace, feigning to renew sisterly affection with Cao Rou'er, a sudden burst of laughter came from the garden below.

"This place is truly lovely. Princess, if you stand on high ground, you could surely see the full view of the princess's mansion, right?"

"Indeed. I've long heard that the princess's mansion's full view is magnificent, grand and beautiful—even His Majesty can't stop praising it."

"Then we also want to take a look."

"I wonder if we might have that honor?"

"We came out together for a stroll after dinner; since the princess has ordered us to tour the garden together, we should be allowed, shouldn't we, Princess?"

The sound of a group of young women giggling 'heehee hahaha' made Li Qingzhu's face change in an instant.

Oh no!

How did they all end up nearby?

Li Qingzhu immediately drew close to Prince Yun, frightened: "My lord, what should we do?"

Prince Yun soothed her: "It's fine; I am here."

In the garden, a group of lovely young women in varied hues came in crowds to the base of the artificial hill.

Princess Nanping, hands on her hips, pointed at the pavilion and said: "Ladies, this is the Moon-Viewing Platform!"

"All of you who wish to see the full view of the princess's mansion may go up and feast your eyes!"

Thus, the group of young women all rushed up the narrow stairs.

The maidservants, panicked, each cried out: "Miss, be careful, miss…"

"Ow, my foot."

"Oh dear, let me go up first."

Down below it was a chaotic mess, while above two guards quickly ran down and blocked the path, shouting: "Halt!"

"Prince Yun is here—who dares cause trouble? All of you, retreat at once!"

The guard gave a mighty shout, and all the maidservants froze.

Upon hearing Prince Yun, each of them turned pale and hastily retreated.

"How did Prince Yun, Your Highness, come here…"

"I don't know; we just happened to be at the Moon-Viewing Platform, so we can't go up, can we?"

"Oh dear, what a pity…"

Everyone felt regretful, but Princess Nanping slipped out.

"My fourth prince's uncle is up there? I didn't know he'd come today as well—I'll go up and pay my respects!"

Nanping sprang up and ran upward.

Pei Nan Jia, at the rear of the crowd, tugged at Li Qingluo: "Nanping probably can't make it up."

Sure enough, Princess Nanping also couldn't get up, and was stopped by the two guards.

"Princess, the prince now has some private affairs, so it's not convenient to receive visitors. Please forgive us, and come again later to see the prince."

Princess Nanping, hands on her hips, exclaimed: "Impudent! Dog lackey, do you even know who I am?"

"This is our princess's mansion; my fourth prince's uncle is in our garden, and yet I haven't even seen him?"

"Fourth prince's uncle, your men won't let me up, fourth prince's uncle!"

Princess Nanping shouted loudly, but there was no response from above—only the sound of the wind howling.

Just then a voice came from behind: "Fourth Prince! Today I, the palace, am hosting a winter banquet, inviting the young ladies of Jinling City to revel at my home. Though you have come as a guest, you really ought not to monopolize the Moon-Viewing Platform for sightseeing, thus dampening the young ladies' spirits."

"But since you're already here, you should quickly make way so they too can go up and enjoy the view."

Turning around, they saw the newcomer; everyone knelt down.

Greetings *** Your Highness. Princess Your Highness, may you live a thousand years, ten thousand years.

The princess's bearing was noble and luxurious.

All the maidens in the courtyard had to bow their heads.

Nanping returned to her mother's side, unhappy: "Mother, look at Fourth Uncle, he doesn't even acknowledge people. His dog lackey even dares to block my way!"

*** fondly rubbed Nanping's little head: "Mother will decide for you."

However, even so, there was still no response from the pavilion.

Xiyue *** also sensed a hint of abnormality.

Come! Open all doors and windows on the upper platform, please have Prince Yun come down!

Having said that, four guards walked out from behind.

But just then, a loud bang suddenly came from the pavilion.

Bang!

It sounded like something had shattered, followed immediately by a fierce argument.

Xiyue *** immediately looked down; several senior maids and guards together hurriedly ran toward the platform.

However, before they arrived, two figures suddenly walked out from inside.

Everyone looked closely, and to their surprise, they were two women!

Someone exclaimed: "Isn't that Cao Rouer and Li Qingzhu?"

Pan Li and the others also quickly exchanged glances: How could Li Qingzhu be together with Prince Yun?

Cao Rouer is now Prince Yun's concubine, but before they had run into each other twice, and Prince Yun and Li Qingzhu had had intimate relations……

Li Qingzhu and Prince Yun?

Someone couldn't help but shout.

Pan Li couldn't help but argue: "Isn't Rouer still here? They were originally close sisters!"

But how could the three of them…… be in the same room? And even if they were close sisters, why do they look like they're arguing?

No sooner had those words been spoken than Prince Yun also walked out from the pavilion.

Li Qingzhu and Cao Rouer didn't know what they were arguing about, and Prince Yun also shouted: "Impudent!"

But just that sentence stimulated Li Qingzhu in some unknown way, and she actually reached out and grabbed Cao Rouer.

The wind's sound drowned out their arguing, but it could be seen that the two were still arguing nonstop.

Cao Rouer, having been grabbed, struggled like a startled magpie; the two shoved each other, bumping into the railing, and then, amidst everyone's gasps, they somehow pulled each other, suddenly tilted, and fell together.