Chapter 2: A Good Man Marries Again, the Situation Grows Even More Difficult

Baoping knew that keeping her in the dark was not a permanent solution, so she gave a brief summary of the news regarding the Heir Apparent taking a concubine.

Li Yanshang's eyes shimmered as she said indifferently, "Look at how troubled you are. It is not such a big deal. The Heir Apparent is taking a side consort, but not into our courtyard. We can continue to live our quiet lives just the same."

Baoping was so anxious that tears nearly fell. "Consort, you are, after all, the Heir Apparent's primary consort. You should make an appearance at such occasions, it's just..."

Li Yanshang smiled faintly, knowing that Baoping was worried she might act impulsively again. In the past, she had always seemed very impulsive, which was why she had made so many mistakes. "Baoping, sooner or later we will walk out of this Nishang Courtyard. I will never let you stay cooped up in this courtyard with me for the rest of your life. Rest assured, I will not be so impulsive again."

Baoping was overjoyed. Over these past few days, she had watched the Consort gradually shed her former temperament through her calm demeanor, becoming increasingly steady. The tiny flicker of hope hidden in her heart slowly rose once more.

"Consort, I am truly happy that you can think so openly. It's just, the Heir Apparent..." Baoping paused, hesitating for a moment before continuing, "The Heir Apparent is your lifelong support. You should side with him. The Princess Consort's closeness to you is not truly for your own good."

Having said this, Baoping stole a glance at the Consort's expression. In the past, whenever she spoke of such things, the Consort would always be impatient. Seeing the unusual look on her face, Li Yanshang could guess her thoughts and smiled. "Baoping, in the future, if you have anything to say, you may say it when it is just the two of us, but you must also be careful not to be overheard by those with ulterior motives. I know you are acting out of concern for me."

Baoping looked up in pleasant surprise. "Consort, if only you had thought this way sooner, Mother Jiang wouldn't have offended the Princess Consort by saying such things and been sent so far away. She, too, was acting entirely for your sake."

Li Yanshang raised an eyebrow slightly. "Don't worry, Mother Jiang will return." Mother Jiang was her dowry maid, who had been banished to a manor.

Baoping nearly wept with joy. Although these were merely empty words, to her ears, they represented the Consort's true intentions. It turned out the Consort still kept Mother Jiang in her heart; if Mother Jiang knew, how could she not be happy?

From the corner of her eye, Li Yanshang saw a flash of green entering the courtyard gate. She gave a slight nod to signal Baoping to turn around and look. No one had visited Nishang Courtyard for a long time.

Baoping turned around and saw Jinzhi, the head maid serving the Princess Consort. She immediately realized the purpose of the visit and felt a slight sense of joy, hurrying forward to greet her. "Sister Jinzhi, you must be exhausted from your duties."

Jingzhi had a round face with delicate features, but her beauty was quite mediocre. She was also extremely low-profile, which was why she enjoyed the Princess Consort's trust.

Jingzhi smiled and first walked up to Li Yanshang to bow. "Consort, the Princess Consort requests your presence at Jingwu Courtyard to talk." After a pause, she added, "When I arrived, the Princess Consort was chanting sutras, so the Consort may wait a moment before heading over."

Li Yanshang's expression was gentle as she smiled slightly. "I must trouble you, Miss Jinzhi. Baoping, take Miss Jinzhi inside for some tea first; I am going to change my clothes."

The Consort was being amiable and even invited her in for tea.

Jingzhi was secretly startled. In the past, the Consort was always aloof and never deigned to speak much to servants. Was she truly this polite today? Had she truly changed after that great catastrophe?

Jingzhi was inwardly suspicious but did not dare show it on her face. She replied respectfully, "The Consort flatters me. I shall stay with Baoping to assist you in changing your clothes."

Baoping had already taken her hand, saying warmly, "Sister Jinzhi, since the Consort has said so, don't be polite. It won't hurt to come in and have a few bites."

Yicui stepped forward to support Li Yanshang into the main room, while Baoping pulled Jinzhi into the adjacent side room to drink tea.

A moment later, Baoping entered carrying clothes, whispering, "Consort, Jinzhi is one of the most influential people in the Princess Consort's presence."

Li Yanshang nodded, indicating she had noted it. Glancing at the clothes in her hand—an apricot-red long dress—she said, "Bring something more plain."

Baoping frowned slightly. "Consort, you have just recovered from a serious illness and your complexion is still a bit dull. Wearing something fresh will make you look more spirited."

"Wouldn't that just be making a spectacle of myself? Plain is better. Besides, I have just lost my child; how could I have the heart to wear such bright purples and reds? Wouldn't people laugh at me?"

Baoping was secretly startled; she had actually overlooked this point. She immediately turned to go out and found a light blue *ruqun* patterned with a hundred butterflies and flowers, along with a plain white padded jacket.

Once Li Yanshang had changed, she had Baoping style her hair in a simple married woman's bun, then she took Baoping's hand and stepped out.

Jingzhi had been waiting at the door. Seeing her in such plain attire, with no powder on her face, she couldn't help but feel surprised again. This plain Consort had fine, smooth skin; though she appeared slightly pale, it added a touch of fragility to her graceful, willow-like figure, making her seem even more elegant and composed than before.

Especially those dark eyes, calm as water and shimmering with light, making her seem like a completely different person.

"The Consort looks truly beautiful today," Jinzhi praised sincerely.

A blush immediately appeared on Li Yanshang's face as she smiled faintly. "Miss Jinzhi, you jest."

Leaving the gates of Nishang Courtyard, Li Yanshang discreetly observed the environment of the Prince's manor. The pavilions and towers went without saying, but the several oddly shaped, craggy rockeries were so intricate they were dazzling to the eye; at a glance, they looked almost real.

Prince Jin loved martial arts, so he likely enjoyed these rugged, canyon-like features.

Along the way, Li Yanshang remained silent, merely memorizing the path while sensing the festive atmosphere within the manor.

Jingwu Courtyard possessed an elegance tinged with a sense of majesty, and the weeping willows within the courtyard added a touch of spring beauty.

Just as the three reached the door of the main room, they heard the sound of something shattering inside, followed by a low growl: "All of them just posing and preening, knowing nothing but to hover around men all day. They deserve to be beaten to death; it's just to stop the Prince from being annoyed when he sees them."

The words inside were clear. Li Yanshang's footsteps suddenly halted. Standing there, she was suddenly reminded of the screams from last night.

Jingzhi hurriedly took a few steps, lifted the curtain, and entered, reporting in a low voice, "Princess Consort, the Consort has arrived."

The Princess Consort, Lady Tong, glared fiercely with her willow-leaf eyebrows, then suppressed her anger and said loudly, "Quickly, invite the Consort in."

The maids had already cleaned up the shattered jade porcelain cup on the floor. Lady Tong also wore a smile as she sat upright in a carved hollow-out chair, her eyes fixed on the heavy crimson felt curtains.

The curtain was lifted, and Li Yanshang walked in slowly. She approached Lady Tong and bowed gracefully. "Mother."

From the moment she entered, Lady Tong's gaze had followed her without leaving, her eyes now filled with astonishment.

A maid had already brought a brocade chair to the side. Li Yanshang sat down sideways, lowering her head slightly and saying little.

Lady Tong's brow was full of smiles, but her eyes clearly held a hint of coldness. "Look at that complexion, so pale. It is all because of your father, ordering that no one visit you. Otherwise, I would have come to see you long ago. I wonder how the servants have been taking care of you? You seem to have recovered quite a bit."

Li Yanshang bowed slightly. "Your daughter is very well, and the servants have taken excellent care of me. Mother need not worry. It is only that I felt very uneasy in my heart for not being able to come and pay my respects to Mother for this past month. Your daughter was thoughtless to cause you so much trouble; please do not be angry, Mother."

Lady Tong knew perfectly well whether the servants were doing a good job or not. She had expected Li Yanshang to come and wail and complain for a while so she could provoke her further, but she hadn't expected Li Yanshang to use such airtight rhetoric.

She could only smile faintly and feign concern. "Your health is what matters most. Recover well. You are still young, and there will be many opportunities in the future, but for now..."

Lady Tong paused, her eyes showing a forced softness and kindness. "Mother was afraid you would be heartbroken, but I must say, you will have to make appearances. In two days, it will be Ye'er's wedding day. Although you have met the side consort, Lady An, she does not look like an easy person to get along with. Mother only worries that you... *Sigh*, Ye'er, truly..."

She stopped mid-sentence, letting out a long sigh.

In the past, Li Yanshang would have been incensed, but at this moment, she only felt that this Princess Consort was a master of speech. With just a few sentences, she had pitted the interests of Lady An and herself, and Yuwen Ye and herself, against one another.

Lady Tong was the successor wife Prince Jin married after the death of Yuwen Ye's biological mother, Lady An. Although she had given birth to a legitimate son and daughter and had a decent relationship with Prince Jin, there was always a knot in her heart. This was not only because Yuwen Ye was the legitimate eldest son and Heir Apparent while her own son could only be a Prince, but there was an even deeper layer of connection.

Yuwen Ye's aunt was the current Empress, and her son, Yuwen Cang, was the Crown Prince. Meanwhile, Lady Tong's younger sister was the Emperor's favored Consort Tong, and Consort Tong's son, Yuwen Qian, was the Emperor's highly favored Second Prince.

When these subtle relationships were strung together, the relationship between Lady Tong and Yuwen Ye became even more complex.

After a brief pause, Lady Tong continued, "Since the Prince has permitted you to go out, your confinement is lifted. You must rely on yourself for future matters; you cannot let yourself suffer. I will speak to Ye'er on your behalf, but you must not simply yield blindly."

Li Yanshang's eyes shifted slightly, her long eyelashes fluttering. "Thank you for your guidance, Mother. Your daughter understands. It is just... the Heir Apparent has long held a deep hatred for me. I only hope to fulfill my filial duties to Mother; as for the rest, let it take its natural course."

"You child, you must appear when Ye'er marries; you must maintain the proper dignity." Lady Tong once again adopted the attitude of a kind and caring mother who considered everyone's feelings, but she was sneering inwardly. *Truly useless. But it is precisely because she is useless that she is easy to hold in the palm of one's hand.*

Li Yanshang merely nodded obediently. "Thank you, Mother."

Lady Tong spoke of several more trivial matters, her words implying that she was standing up for Li Yanshang, yet she was also unintentionally stirring the fire in Li Yanshang's heart. Unfortunately, Li Yanshang was no longer the person she used to be; she was no longer that impulsive, impetuous, and self-deprecating Li Yanshang.