Chapter 3: Honeyed Words, a Hidden Dagger, and Deep Schemes

Coming out of the Jingwu Courtyard, Li Yanchang let out a long sigh of relief, her heart quietly easing as well. Her first meeting with the Tong clan had finally allowed her a close encounter with them, and she had managed to grasp a bit of their temperament.

"Consort Heir?" A voice as clear as a warbling oriole suddenly rang out. A woman dressed in a goose-yellow, wide-sleeved long dress walked over, moving with a graceful, swaying elegance.

Li Yanchang immediately guessed that this must be her dowry maid, Hongling, who was also the concubine she had personally placed by Yuwen Ye's bedside.

"Consort Heir, is your health alright?" The woman's eyebrows arched slightly, her enchanting peach-blossom eyes swirling with a flirtatious light. "Consort Heir, you have truly suffered. This servant has been constantly worrying about you, speaking up for you before the Heir every single day, but alas, the Heir..."

Her long sigh seemed to be laced with countless regrets.

Li Yanchang watched her with cold eyes. The woman was merely trying to show off in front of her that the Heir went to her room every night. A mere little maid, at most she could become a concubine; if she could bear a son, perhaps she might be looked upon with a bit more respect.

Li Yanchang gave a cold laugh. "I am indebted to you."

Baoping glared at her even more fiercely. The woman had merely climbed into her master's bed and, taking advantage of the fact that the Heir and the Consort Heir were at odds, had managed to be elevated to the status of an concubine. She even dared to try and bypass the Consort Heir—what wishful thinking.

Hongling's beautiful eyes shifted slightly as she leaned a little closer to Li Yanchang. "Consort Heir, you didn't say anything to the Princess Consort, did you?"

Li Yanchang raised an eyebrow at her, a sharp glint flashing in her clear eyes, and said coldly, "What should I have said to the Princess Consort?"

Hongling had never seen the Consort Heir in such a state. Terrified, her body stiffened, and she hurriedly changed her tune. "Nothing, it's nothing. This servant misspoke."

Li Yanchang's searching gaze swept over her. She felt as though there was a hidden meaning in the woman's words and wanted to ask a few more questions, but fearing that revealing too much would arouse suspicion, she merely stared at her coldly.

As expected, Hongling could no longer stand steady. With an embarrassed expression, she curtsied. "Consort Heir, please focus on nursing your health. The Heir will be returning soon, and this servant should also head back."

As Hongling turned around, her face was full of mockery. So what if she was the noble Consort Heir? Was she not just a chess piece in the Princess Consort's hand? Truly foolish to the extreme—instead of flattering her own man, she went to curry favor with that old woman.

*What did she mean by those words?* Li Yanchang lowered her head, thinking quietly.

Seeing her unusual expression, Baoping advised, "Consort Heir, do not take her words to heart. If the Old Madam knew she was like this, she would never have allowed her to marry into the Prince's Mansion."

The "Old Madam" referred to Li Yanchang's grandmother, who doted on her immensely and was the only person in her maiden family, aside from her brother, who truly cared for her.

Li Yanchang's heart stirred slightly. She sighed, "It has been a long time since I went back to visit Grandmother. I wonder how her health is."

Baoping was momentarily stunned and asked cautiously, "Consort Heir, do you truly wish to go back and see the Old Madam?"

Li Yanchang was also taken aback. That was true; the former Li Yanchang had always been ashamed of her maternal family and loathed it when others mentioned her lineage. Aside from the bride's return to her parental home, she had never returned once.

Seeing her momentary daze, Baoping immediately realized she had said something wrong and hurriedly corrected herself, "Consort Heir... this servant..."

A layer of mist gathered in Li Yanchang's eyes as she whispered, "In the past, I was too immature. I must have hurt Grandmother's heart. If there is a chance, I will definitely go back to accompany her properly."

Baoping also wept with joy, her eyes blurred with tears. "Consort Heir, if the Old Madam knew, she would surely be happy."

Li Yanchang took out a handkerchief and lowered her head slightly to wipe the corners of her eyes. Just then, a maid came walking toward them and collided with her in a frantic rush.

Even with Baoping's support, Li Yanchang was jolted and nearly fell. Before she could steady herself, she heard a panicked plea for mercy: "Consort Heir, spare my life! Consort Heir, spare my life!"

This was followed by the *thud, thud* sound of a forehead repeatedly striking the ground.

Li Yanchang steadied herself and looked in surprise at the little maid kneeling on the ground, kowtowing incessantly. In just a few strikes, a patch of bruising had already appeared on her fair brow.

She hurriedly stopped her. "Get up quickly, stop kowtowing. Your head is going to break. Baoping, help her up quickly."

The Consort Heir was no longer like before; Baoping had gained some insight into her temperament. She hurried forward, bending down to help the girl up. "Qiaoyu, the Consort Heir told you to get up, so get up."

Qiaoyu shook her head in terror, her eyes full of pleading. "Consort Heir, it is all because this servant lacked eyes and offended you. I beg you to spare me."

Baoping smiled and forcibly pulled her to her feet. "Qiaoyu, the Consort Heir has told you to get up; of course she won't punish you again. If you keep kowtowing, the Consort Heir truly will get angry."

Qiaoyu looked incredulous, staring blankly at Baoping and then at the Consort Heir. Seeing that there was indeed no anger on the Consort Heir's face, she finally breathed a secret sigh of relief. "Thank you for your generosity, Consort Heir. Thank you, Sister Baoping."

Li Yanchang sighed inwardly. It was just an accidental collision, yet look how terrified the girl was. She gave a slight smile. "To bruise your brow like this for no reason... I'll have Baoping bring you some medicine later, lest it leaves a scar."

Qiaoyu was overwhelmed by the favor but also extremely terrified, nearly falling to her knees again. "Consort Heir, Consort Heir... this servant, this servant... this servant does not dare."

If she continued, she feared she would frighten the girl to death. Li Yanchang said no more and waved her hand. "Go on and attend to your duties."

Qiaoyu gave an "oh," curtsied, and turned to leave, looking somewhat dazed.

Baoping pinched her handkerchief and chuckled. "That silly girl."

Li Yanchang, however, frowned. "Is she really that afraid of me?"

Baoping stepped forward and supported Li Yanchang with both hands. "Consort Heir, have you forgotten? Once, when Qiaoyu broke a porcelain vase in your room, you had someone slap her until her mouth was nearly ruined. Naturally, she is afraid of you."

Li Yanchang gasped. No wonder the girl was so terrified. To be slapped until her mouth was ruined over a porcelain vase—if she had nearly knocked into the Consort Heir, wouldn't that have been a capital offense?

"Qiaoyu? Which courtyard does she serve in?"

Baoping found it a bit strange but then understood; the Consort Heir had never cared for servants, so she naturally wouldn't notice such details. "She is from Qinglan Pavilion, the one serving the lady we just saw."

Li Yanchang understood immediately and instructed, "Send her some wound medicine in a little while."

Baoping was stunned and murmured, "Consort Heir, you really have changed."

Li Yanchang's heart tightened, but her expression remained calm. She let out a low sigh. "Baoping, people change, especially after experiencing painful things. In this world, it is survival of the fittest. If you cannot adapt to the environment, you will be eliminated. Though the child in my womb is gone, I must still accumulate some merit for him."

As she spoke, a layer of mist again covered her eyes, as if she were in unbearable heartache.

Baoping's eyes also reddened, but fearing the Consort Heir would be sad, she forced a smile to comfort her. "Consort Heir, as long as your health recovers, that is better than anything."

Li Yanchang's face was pale as she managed a faint smile. Leaning on Baoping's hand, she walked back, no longer in the mood to admire the beautiful scenery of the Prince's Mansion.

Behind them, a man dressed in navy blue stepped out from the shadows, silently repeating the words she had just said. *Survival of the fittest... will it really change things?*

A bitter smile hung on his lips. She had always done this, hadn't she? It was just that she could never figure out exactly what kind of environment she needed to adapt to in this vast Prince's Mansion.

All this time, he had misread her and believed in her wrongly, which had led to this bitter fruit.

He let out a heavy sigh and turned to leave.

Upon returning to Nishang Courtyard, Baoping picked out a bottle of wound medicine to send to Qiaoyu, who was naturally moved to tears of gratitude.

When Baoping returned, her mood seemed somewhat low; she only said a few words before standing to the side in silence.

Li Yanchang found it strange and asked, "What is it? Is something wrong?"

Baoping hadn't wanted to say anything, but since the Consort Heir had asked, she did not hide it. "When this servant went there, Qiaoyu was crying. She has an old mother and a paralyzed younger brother at home. Her mother stays home to care for her brother and relies on Qiaoyu to live. These past few days, her mother has also fallen ill, and they have no money for medical treatment. Qiaoyu was crying out of desperation."

As Baoping spoke, she grew somewhat indignant. "Her master is also quite harsh; if she shows even the slightest hint of misery, she gets scolded."

Qiaoyu's master naturally referred to Hongling. If it were any other master, Baoping wouldn't dare speak recklessly, but she found Hongling unpleasant to look at and naturally didn't care for her.

"How much money do we have left?" Li Yanchang glanced at her.

Baoping immediately understood the Consort Heir's meaning and shook her head hurriedly. "Consort Heir, please do not entertain such thoughts. Given the current situation, I fear we lack the means."

How could Li Yanchang not know? She sighed and fell silent.

The door curtain was lifted, and Yicui walked in slowly, curtsying to report, "Consort Heir, Sister Jinzhi has arrived."

Li Yanchang hurriedly said, "Invite her in at once."

Baoping personally stepped forward to lift the curtain and invite Jinzhi in.

Jinzhi walked in with a smile, followed by two little maids. She bowed gracefully. "Consort Heir, the Princess Consort sent me to deliver your monthly allowance. A few days ago, the Princess Consort was unable to send anyone, but only now did she realize that those blind fools had been withholding your things. They have all been driven out by the Princess Consort."

Li Yanchang smiled slightly. "Please, Miss Jinzhi, have a seat."

Jinzhi was fearful. "Consort Heir, this servant does not dare."

Baoping had already brought over a stool and forcibly pulled Jinzhi down to sit.

Jinzhi could only continue while sitting sideways. "The people serving you are truly too few. The Princess Consort has selected two to send to you, and once more suitable ones are found, she will send them to the Consort Heir."

Li Yanchang seemed very moved, her brows furrowed tightly, her eyes full of gratitude. "Please go back and tell Mother. I have troubled her. It is late today, and Father should be returning soon. I will go to thank Mother properly tomorrow."

Having finished the task assigned by the Princess Consort and received the Consort Heir's words, Jinzhi considered her business done and did not linger, rising to take her leave.

Li Yanchang reached up and pulled a silver hairpin from her hair. "Miss Jinzhi, thank you for making this trip. Mother has plenty of fine things, so you wouldn't find this special, and this item isn't precious either. Take it for a bit of novelty."

Baoping reached out, took the silver hairpin, and pressed it into Jinzhi's hand.

Jinzhi hurriedly declined. "Consort Heir, this is what this servant should do. This servant would never dare accept anything from the Consort Heir."

Li Yanchang smiled and waved her hand. "It is not anything valuable; it is just something I have worn. Who would dare say you are being improper? If you do not accept it, I will only think you are looking down on it."

Having reached this point, Jinzhi could no longer find words to refuse. Seeing that it was indeed an ordinary hairpin, she accepted it with a clear conscience. "Thank you for the reward, Consort Heir."