"What?"
For a moment, the Empress wondered if she had misheard Song Chaoyu.
She looked at Song Chaoyu in disbelief. "Did you just say you want to welcome the two side consorts into the manor? Do you mean your Chang Prince's manor is willing to take these two side consorts as wives?"
Even Song Yanjiao, standing beside her, looked at Song Chaoyu with some disbelief.
After all, the Chang Prince had offended the Emperor himself to prevent these two side consorts from entering the manor before.
How could they have relented so easily now?
Song Yanjiao said, "Have you thought this through? Those are two side consorts, not concubines, nor mere maids. They are to be formally married into the Chang Prince's manor as side consorts!"
However, at this point, Song Yanjiao's words were out of place.
As expected, the Empress shot Song Yanjiao a displeased look.
Song Yanjiao lowered her head. Song Chaoyu, however, still smiled at the Empress. "The Prince knows his mistake. This is all the Emperor, the Empress, and the Empress Dowager's kind intention. How can our Chang Prince's manor refuse it? I request the Empress to make the decision!"
"Good, good!"
This time, the Empress truly smiled at Song Chaoyu. "You are indeed different from what people outside say. Since your Chang Prince's manor has come to its senses, the Emperor and I can rest assured. You can also be at ease. After all, you are the main consort of the Chang Prince's manor, the mistress of the manor. They wouldn't dare do anything to you."
The Empress beamed. "Rest assured, there are proper procedures for welcoming side consorts, so you don't need to worry about anything. Your Chang Prince's manor can simply wait for them to serve you tea."
Song Chaoyu nodded, and there was nothing else to discuss.
The Empress's mind was focused on this matter, and she had no interest in dealing with Song Yanjiao. After casually bestowing some gifts, she sent them both back.
Upon returning to the Chang Prince's manor, although Song Chaoyu knew Mu Changxi was in the study, she did not go to see him. She returned to her own room on her own.
Mu Changxi also heard that Song Chaoyu had returned, but when he was told she had gone straight to her room, he sighed. "This girl has always been like this. When she's unhappy, she doesn't say anything and doesn't want to talk to anyone."
He turned back and frowned at Xiao Ruizi. "Look, we've upset the Princess. What should we do?"
Xiao Ruizi muttered, "It's clearly the Prince who caused the trouble, why is it us? This servant dares not provoke the Princess!"
"What did you say?!"
Mu Changxi glared fiercely at Xiao Ruizi. Xiao Ruizi quickly waved his hands. "No, no. This servant says that the Princess is a good-tempered person. We just need to find a way to appease her!"
Mu Changxi sighed. "That's more like it! But how is this girl so easily appeased!"
A moment later, Song Chaoyu heard Xiao Ruizi knocking on her door. "Your Highness, the meal is ready. Do you want to come out and eat?"
"I'm not eating!"
Knowing that Xiao Ruizi was definitely here on behalf of Mu Changxi, Song Chaoyu felt that she shouldn't be throwing a tantrum with Mu Changxi, but her heart felt deeply upset.
She said, "I'm not eating. I'm tired and want to sleep today. No one should disturb me."
"Oh."
Xiao Ruizi outside looked a little disappointed. "Then Your Highness should rest."
Xiao Ruizi had been rebuffed and had no other options.
Tiaohong saw her Princess acting this way towards the Prince, which was rare, and sighed. "Your Highness, please don't be angry! Actually, the Prince knew what we were going to do that day, didn't he? If Your Highness is angry now, what if the Prince really runs off with someone else?"
Song Chaoyu had never really considered the possibility of Mu Changxi running off with someone else.
She sighed. "I'm just very tired these days. You all go about your business and let me rest. After all, in a couple of days, we'll have to start acting for others again!"
Tiaohong and Qiuqing also saw that Song Chaoyu was in a bad mood. After they left, Song Chaoyu curled up on the bed. She wanted to sleep but couldn't, so she closed her eyes to rest.
After an unknown amount of time, she heard the door creak open.
The rumbling sound of the wooden wheelchair entering told Song Chaoyu who it was.
She remained in bed, unwilling to move.
When he reached the bedside and saw Song Chaoyu still motionless, Mu Changxi knew that he had truly angered her this time.
He cleared his throat, took off his outer robe, and obediently got into bed. Then, he tugged at the blanket pitifully. "It's cold."
Song Chaoyu still buried her head in the quilt and then sighed. "The weather is getting warmer, how can it be cold?"
But she still loosened a section of the quilt, allowing Mu Changxi to "snatch" it.
Mu Changxi slipped into the quilt and then wrapped his arms around Song Chaoyu's waist from behind. "Ayu, that day... I shouldn't have said those words. Please don't take it to heart, okay? Don't ignore me, okay?"
How could the dignified Prince Chang be acting so spoiled at this moment?
Feeling his hands becoming restless, Song Chaoyu grabbed Mu Changxi's hand. "Don't mess around. I have something I want to tell you."
"Hmm?"
Mu Changxi felt Song Chaoyu's seriousness and became even more puzzled.
Song Chaoyu finally turned around to face Mu Changxi and then sighed. "I think... I might be pregnant."
"..."
There was a long silence between them.
Then, a surge of joy welled up in Mu Changxi's heart. "Is it true?! When did this happen? Why didn't you tell me sooner?!"
Saying this, he was about to sit up.
Song Chaoyu, however, pulled him back. "Don't get excited yet! Listen to me finish!"
Mu Changxi's eyes were filled with joy, and he didn't even seem to know where to put his hands.
Song Chaoyu's eyes, however, were filled with worry. "My period is just late this month, and I feel a little different from usual. I haven't called a doctor to examine me yet. I think this child has come at the wrong time."
Hearing her words, Mu Changxi's brow furrowed. "Ayu, what do you mean by that?"
Song Chaoyu quickly waved her hands. "I don't mean anything else, I'm just a little worried, so... I haven't dared to call a doctor. I think, given the current situation, we should keep this matter a secret for now. What do you think?"
After Song Chaoyu's reminder, Mu Changxi also calmed down.
He took Song Chaoyu's hand and looked at her seriously. "I'll go and ask the Imperial Physician Wang who serves the Crown Prince to come over. He's an old attendant to the Crown Prince and can be completely trusted. Let's first confirm your condition, and then we can discuss other matters. What do you say?"