Meanwhile, Princess Xinnan took the Light Fortune Stone with her to see the Grand Emperor. The Grand Emperor was delighted and retracted his command, letting Zhenzhu go. However, the moment Princess Xinnan thought about Sheng Chuling, she became depressed once again. What if that brat gave up on using kites completely? She panicked and could not hold back any longer as she ran to the Eastern Palace.
The internal attendant thought that Princess Xinnan came to find the Crown Prince and informed her that the Crown Prince was not in the Eastern Palace at the moment. Princess Xinnan then declared that she was looking for the Crown Princess. She then wandered around the entire Eastern Palace looking for Sheng Chuling.
Eventually, Princess Xinnan caught sight of Sheng Chuling patrolling the grounds with another imperial guard. Although it was obvious that he had seen her, he pretended not to have as he turned and walked away. He wanted to solve her issue with her temper and not cause her misunderstanding to deepen. However, she thought that Sheng Chuling had a change of heart.
“Xinnan, I heard that you came to the Eastern Palace to look for me. I waited for you but did not see you. It turned out you are here.” Sun Lingshu came up to her. “I have been bored out of my mind. Thank you for accompanying me to have a chat.”
Xinnan was embarrassed as she held onto Sun Lingshu and entered the side palace.
“Xinnan, you don’t look very pleased, did something happen?” Sun Lingshu asked.
Princess Xinnan did not dare to let anyone know about this. “Let’s not talk about it. Now that you are with a child, I should not speak about frustrating matters to you.”
Sun Lingshu smiled. “You really know how to talk. No wonder, the Crown Prince dotes on you so much.”
“Sister-in-law, how have you been recently? Has Elder Brother been accompanying you?” Princess Xinnan forced herself to chat.
“Sigh, if only he would accompany me for the entire day. Ever since I became pregnant, he has appeared in front of me less than before. Even if he comes, he will always ask the same few questions. Have you eaten? Did the baby move?” This was not what Sun Lingshu had imagined.
Princess Xinnan spoke up for her elder brother. “That’s quite good of Elder Brother already. At least he did not get seduced by other women while you are pregnant.”
Sun Lingshu’s mouth twitched. “Who said that he has not been seduced? It is just that the person that seduced him is not a woman. Whenever he has some free time, he would go and find a man named Chen Ji. They would go to hunt, fish, or play chess. Recently, the Crown Prince even brought him to the palace to recuperate because Chen Ji got injured.”
Princess Xinnan did not think that it was a big deal. “It’s great that Elder Brother has a friend to accompany him.”
“Although I cannot accompany him to hunt or fish, I can play chess with him. Why must he always look for Chen Ji?” Sun Lingshu could not understand.
A palace maid entered to inform that Fu Rou was here to deliver embroideries.
Sun Lingshu instructed, “I am currently talking to Princess Xinnan. Tell Head Seamstress Fu that she can just leave the embroideries and please thank her.”
Princess Xinnan snorted, “Sister-in-law, why do you need to say thank you to her? She is a female official. It is their duty anyway.”
Sun Lingshu sighed, “Imperial Mother dotes heavily on Head Seamstress Fu. I have to be careful not to offend her.”
Princess Xinnan’s eyes lit up. “Sister-in-law, you also dislike Head Seamstress Fu?”
“Also?” Sun Lingshu thought that Fu Rou was too likeable and everyone liked her.
“I don’t care what you think but I dislike her. In front of you, she pretends to be decent and virtuous. She has even won over Imperial Mother and other concubines. They all think she is a good person. In reality, she secretly seduces other men and is inappropriate. I look down the most on women like her who are double-faced.” Princess Xinnan blurted out her grievance in a fit.
Sun Lingshu was curious. “You also know about her and Prince Zhou?”
Xinnan froze. “What Prince Zhou?”
“You don’t know?” Sun Lingshu’s eyes shifted. “Then forget about it.”
Xinnan refused to let her drop it. “Sister-in-law, tell me. Don’t hide things from me.”
Sun Lingshu shook her head. “It's best if I refrain from gossiping about matters in the palace. Once I tell you, you will feel uncomfortable and cannot do anything to her anyway.”
“What makes you think that I cannot do anything to her? Sister-in-law, please tell me.”
“She once went against the palace rules and snuck out of the palace with Prince Zhou.” Sun Lingshu was delighted to say it. She had tried numerous times to be friendly with Fu Rou but Fu Rou never cared about her. Therefore, there was no need for her to worry about Fu Rou. “But don’t tell anyone that I am the one who told you.”
“Something like that actually happened?!” Princess Xinnan huffed, “Sister-in-law, rest assured; this has nothing to do with you. Let’s see how long she can remain arrogant for!”
Chapter 23.2: Dismantling
Fu Rou did not know that she had become a problem for the Crown Princess and the Princess as she left the embroideries and headed out of the Eastern Palace. She coincidentally bumped into the Crown Prince and Chen Ji on her way back. This caused her to be momentarily surprised. Every time she saw them together, she could not help but feel strangely worried.
Chen Ji was limping as he called out to her first. “Fu Rou.”
Fu Rou replied, “Chen Ji.”
The Crown Prince remembered that Fu Rou also came from the Han Mansion.
Fu Rou asked Chen Ji, “What happened to your leg?”
The Crown Prince wanted to say that they had gone hunting recently and met with a tiger. Chen Ji helped block him from the tiger and ended up injuring his leg.
Chen Ji, however, spoke first, “Nothing, I fell off a horse and accidentally injured myself. Eh, I wanted to ask you. Where are my clothes?” He saw how Fu Rou was struggling to remember. “I tore my shirt previously and you said that you would help me mend it and even promised to return it to me. Alas, it is like Liubei borrowing Jingzhou, once borrowed, never returned.”
“That shirt…” When Fu Rou left the Han Mansion, she had left in a rush. “I am sorry, I forgot.”
Chen Ji waved his hand, “I am kidding.”
“Hurry up and get better.” Fu Rou then bowed towards the Crown Prince and took her leave.
After Fu Rou left, the Crown Prince teased Chen Ji. “You asked someone to help you mend your clothes. Do you like her? Head Seamstress Fu is pretty good. She is capable and beautiful.”
Chen Ji laughed, “What are you thinking about? We happened to bump into each other that time and she saw that my shirt was torn and said that she would help me mend it. Oh, the first time we met was when I helped you take the eagle from the tree. Didn’t you say that that golden arrow was bestowed on you by your Imperial Father and you could not lose it? It was that time. I tore my shirt because of you.”
The Crown Prince laughed as well. “It was all thanks to that eagle. If not, we would not be friends.”
Chen Ji became serious as he thought about it. “Mmhm, we should thank him. You should bestow the title of General Eagle upon it.”
“I will bestow the title of General Eagle on it and bestow the title of General Eagle Picker on you. Then the entire world will be filled with generals.” The Crown Prince replied in a serious tone, “Do you think that the title of general can be granted anyhow? Gullible!”
They exchanged glances and burst into laughter, wiping away the coldness of the Eastern Palace.
Empress Zhangsun’s attendant, Wei Song, sent over nourishing products to Concubine Yan. Recently, the Emperor often rested at Concubine Yan’s place. As she heard that Concubine Yan was not feeling well, as the Empress, she ought to show care and concern.
Wei Song returned and reported that Concubine Yan was listening to Master Faya’s Buddhist teachings. She was looking perfectly healthy.
As Empress Zhangsun heard this, she coughed.