Gu Mingyue touched her swollen belly, leaning against the soft couch, her voice laced with coldness and impatience.
Beside her, the third concubine, Madam Han, sat upright in a chair, fiddling with a handkerchief. After Gu Mingyue had vented her displeasure, she offered a few words of persuasion.
She recalled how she had intended to use the words of the young ladies from other noble houses to accuse Gu Qianying of being tainted and thus nearly causing her sister to miscarry, and then drive Gu Qianying out of the mansion.
But who knew that His Highness the Crown Prince, Nan Rongqi, would actually visit with the Fourth and Fifth Princes, and witness the spectacle of the eldest son of the Gu mansion declaring the Gu family's intentions to His Highness the Crown Prince.
Now, to appease the officials who followed him, His Highness the Crown Prince would naturally treat their families well. And since Old General Gu was the most important figure to win over among the officials, everyone in the Gu mansion was consequently favored by His Highness the Crown Prince.
With this in mind, Madam Han discussed the current situation with Gu Mingyue before saying, "Mingyue, your aunt thinks it's best for us to lie low for a few days. It's not too late to deal with her when the opportunity arises. After all, there will be plenty of time in the future..."
*Clang.*
The teacup fell, splashing tea all over Madam Han.
"In the future! I don't want any future. This young lady wants to deal with that slut Gu Qianying now. This young lady can't wait even half a day!"
Madam Han's face showed displeasure. After wiping the water from her hands with her handkerchief, she frowned, "What if you can't wait? You wouldn't want to embarrass Gu Qianying in front of His Highness the Crown Prince, would you? Mingyue, why didn't His Highness the Crown Prince protect you just now, but instead changed his attitude towards Gu Qianying and gave her an outer residence? Do you need your aunt to explain the meaning behind this to you again?"
Madam Han was clearly impatient with Gu Mingyue's lack of understanding.
However, Gu Mingyue, relying on her pregnancy with the Crown Prince's child, paid no heed to Madam Han.
"Aunt, I remember Meng Yun..."
Before Gu Mingyue could finish her sentence, Madam Han's expression immediately changed, and her tone softened. "Mingyue, it was your aunt's attitude that was poor just now. Please don't blame her. After all, your aunt is doing this for your own good. However, if you are determined to deal with that little slut Gu Qianying right now, there is a way, but this method is a bit..."
Before Madam Han could finish, Gu Mingyue eagerly said, "What method? Tell me quickly."
Madam Han gestured to the maid serving Gu Mingyue. Upon receiving the signal, the maid immediately led the others out of the room.
When only Madam Han and Gu Mingyue remained in the room, the third concubine finally spoke, "If Gu Qianying is implicated in a murder, and this life happens to be that of a child with an unusual identity, then even if His Highness the Crown Prince wants to save Old Master Gu's face, he might not be able to. Not only that, he might even report it to the Emperor for his own reputation and have the Emperor punish Gu Qianying."
Madam Han's words were vague, and Gu Mingyue didn't quite understand. It wasn't until Madam Han touched Gu Mingyue's swollen belly that Gu Mingyue suddenly understood.
"No! This child is my bargaining chip for future status through my child. We absolutely cannot harm him."
Gu Mingyue protected her belly with both hands.
Madam Han smiled, "Status through your child? Heh heh, Mingyue, you will only be a concubine to His Highness the Crown Prince in the future. Even if you give birth to His Highness the Crown Prince's first child, what of it? Don't forget, you are only a庶女 (shu nu - daughter of a concubine) in the mansion. No matter how much His Highness the Crown Prince favors you in the future, your child can never be the legitimate son, and you can never be the Crown Prince's official consort. Moreover, judging by His Highness the Crown Prince's attitude towards you yesterday, your aunt doesn't think he's particularly fond of you, otherwise, why wouldn't he care about your grievances?"
As she spoke, Madam Han noticed the anger on Gu Mingyue's face. She quickly took Gu Mingyue's hand and said kindly, "Mingyue, your third aunt is all for your own good. Think about it, you have lost your mother, and you have also fallen out of favor with Old Master. If it weren't for the fact that you are about to become a concubine to His Highness the Crown Prince, your life in the mansion would be even more difficult in the future. And all of this is thanks to that little slut Gu Qianying.
No matter what, you cannot let that little slut Gu Qianying off the hook. But you have to strike where it hurts. If you only use half-hearted tactics, how can you bring down Gu Qianying? Mingyue, if this child is gone, we can have more children in the future. But this opportunity is only once. If you return to the Eastern Palace with His Highness the Crown Prince, it will be difficult to deal with that little slut Gu Qianying then.
Oh, right, your third aunt heard yesterday that our Crown Prince not only favored everyone in the Gu mansion but also paid special attention to that woman Gu Qianying. If it's to ensure that our Old Master will forever serve His Highness the Crown Prince, and to strengthen ties with Old Master, marrying the legitimate daughter of the Gu mansion as a consort is also possible."
"No! I won't allow it! I absolutely will not allow Gu Qianying to become the Crown Princess!" Gu Mingyue slammed the table heavily. The thought of Gu Qianying returning Prince Jiunan Rong Mo's betrothal gifts many days ago made her heart panic.
Prince Jiunan Rong Mo was nowhere near as noble as His Highness the Crown Prince, and he was also a paralyzed person. Compared to him, His Highness the Crown Prince was naturally the most suitable person to be a husband.
"I've decided to proceed according to your method!"
The Crown Princess, what an enviable status. Even if she couldn't achieve it, she definitely wouldn't let that slut Gu Qianying have it!
Seeing that Gu Mingyue had been persuaded, Madam Han cursed Gu Mingyue as an idiot in her heart, but on the surface, she praised Gu Mingyue's virtues.
"Your method is feasible, but what reason can I find to have Gu Qianying stay close to me every day?"
To harm Gu Qianying, a suitable opportunity had to be found.
"Don't worry about that. Mingyue, you are pregnant and in an unstable condition. It would be acceptable to have your very close sister stay by your side to help take care of you."
Listening to Madam Han's words, the anger in Gu Mingyue's eyes, born of hatred, gradually subsided.
"Good, your method is excellent."
With that, Gu Mingyue called out towards the door, "Someone, go to the kitchen and get some pastries that look good but taste bad."
Madam Han looked at Gu Mingyue and smiled, "That's right, acting sisterly affection appropriately is also good."
The maid brought out the pastries that were left in the kitchen, mostly uneaten, and were very beautifully presented, packed in a food box.
Gu Mingyue glanced at them, then took them to the Garden Pavilion. As she was leaving, she encountered the governess, Madam Lan, who had just returned from outside.
Madam Lan, upon hearing that Gu Mingyue was going to the Garden Pavilion to visit her elder sister Gu Qianying, offered to accompany her.
Although Gu Mingyue was displeased, she dared not refuse.
Madam Lan was a person of His Highness the Crown Prince. Although she had bribed her with a large sum of money, they were not of the same mind. Moreover, Madam Lan's purpose in coming to the mansion was to take care of her, who was pregnant. But if Madam Lan knew what method she intended to use to harm Gu Qianying, she would definitely stop her.
For this reason, it was better to keep some things from her.
On the way, Madam Lan asked Gu Mingyue a few questions, which Gu Mingyue casually brushed off.
When the three of them arrived at the Garden Pavilion, Gu Qianying refused to see visitors and closed her door!