"Ah—it hurts so much!"
Not long after Song Yanjiao entered the side courtyard, a cry was heard: "It hurts so much! Where is our Prince? Why hasn't our Prince arrived yet?"
By all rights, he should have arrived by this hour.
Song Chaoyu glanced back at Tiao Hong. She shook her head, indicating that the message had been sent, but there was no sign of Ning Wang.
Even if the Ning Wang was still under house arrest, he would have heard the news. The Ning Wangfei was giving birth, how could he not be present?
As she was thinking this, the voice of a young servant from the manor sounded from ahead: "Princess Consort, people from the Ning Wang Manor have arrived!"
Song Chaoyu noticed that the servant said people from the Ning Wang Manor had arrived, not that the Ning Wang himself had arrived.
She nodded, then said to the servant, "I will go and receive them personally."
—
At this moment, standing in the main hall of the Chang Wang Manor were indeed people from the Ning Wang Manor.
However, the person who had arrived was not the Ning Wang, Mu Hansu, but the side consort, Wu Lingru.
Compared to Song Yanjiao, who had already become shapeless and temperamental, Wu Lingru was quite different.
A long time had passed since she had a miscarriage due to Song Yanjiao's actions, and Wu Lingru clearly knew what she needed to do.
She had recovered her health, and now her face was charming and radiant. Dressed in a gossamer藕裙 (lotus-root colored skirt) today, she truly looked like someone favored by Mu Hansu.
Song Chaoyu understood: it was no wonder Song Yanjiao was not favored in the Ning Wang Manor. The Wu Lingru before her was her "rival," not to mention that besides Wu Lingru, there were many other beauties in the Ning Wang Manor's inner courtyard. Song Yanjiao now probably couldn't even catch the Ning Wang's eye.
Seeing Song Chaoyu personally come out to greet her, Wu Lingru also stepped forward with a smile, maintaining a friendly attitude towards Song Chaoyu: "This concubine greets the Chang Wangfei. I did not expect that the Ning Wangfei's affairs would trouble the Chang Wangfei to preside over. I am truly sorry, I fear we have greatly disturbed the Chang Wang Manor today!"
Her words were spoken very well, and it was no wonder Mu Hansu had entrusted the management of the manor to Wu Lingru.
Song Chaoyu nodded, naturally following the principle of "one does not strike a smiling face." "Side Consort Wu is too polite. Firstly, the Chang Wang and the Ning Wang are both from the Western Frontier, and the two manors should support each other. There is no mistake in that. Secondly, I am also sisters by blood with the Ning Wangfei. If a younger sister helps her elder sister, how can there be any need for thanks?"
"That is the reasoning."
Wu Lingru was still trying to gauge Song Chaoyu's thoughts, so she smiled and nodded: "Although you say so, the Chang Wangfei is also with child now, and I fear you should not be overexerted. Therefore, our Prince specifically sent this concubine to bring our Ning Wangfei back to the manor. This way, it will not be considered disturbing the Chang Wangfei's rest, do you not agree?"
"Take her back?"
Song Chaoyu frowned: "But how did I hear that your Ning Wang Manor has not even prepared a midwife? And now the Ning Wangfei's water has broken, and childbirth is imminent. If they are taken back now, it might not be good for them, mother and child. It is better not to have such a bumpy journey. Our Chang Wang Manor has everything prepared, so why not let the Ning Wangfei give birth here?"
Song Chaoyu's attitude was still quite polite, but Wu Lingru's expression became less pleasant.
She even appeared somewhat troubled: "This… I'm afraid it's not appropriate? This concubine also knows that Chang Wangfei has good intentions. However, I heard that for childbirth, there is the saying of 'chongxi' (a ritual to ward off bad luck). I fear that letting the Ning Wangfei give birth here might 'chongxi' your own good fortune. If that happens, how will you explain it to the Chang Wang, who has not yet awakened?"
"It matters not."
Song Chaoyu waved her hand, appearing unconcerned: "What 'chongxi' or not 'chongxi' is merely superstitious talk. If you believe it, it exists; if you don't, it doesn't. The Prince and I have never believed in these sayings, so naturally, we do not need to care about them."
She knew that Wu Lingru would not give up easily.
So she decided to "hint" at Wu Lingru, stating her thoughts: "Regardless, the child is innocent. If Side Consort Wu is still worried, then stay here to look after the Ning Wangfei. As long as the Ning Wangfei's child is born safely, we can all be at ease, don't you think?"
However, as soon as these words were spoken, the smile on Wu Lingru's face vanished.
She let out a scoff, suddenly changing her attitude: "The child is innocent?! Isn't that so? Everyone says the child is innocent. But if the child in Song Yanjiao's womb is innocent, was the child in my manor not innocent back then? Now I have no other thoughts, I just feel that I don't want to dirty the Chang Wang Manor's grounds, and wish to take our Ning Wangfei back. Why is the Chang Wangfei repeatedly obstructing?"
It seemed Wu Lingru had thought it through clearly.
Song Chaoyu lowered her head and also expressed her attitude to Wu Lingru: "Since the person has been sent here and childbirth has begun, then naturally, she cannot be casually taken away. Otherwise, if something happens to the Ning Wangfei and the child on the road, who will bear the responsibility, you or I? Side Consort Wu, we have no grievances or enmity, and I hope you will not make things difficult for me, nor will I make things difficult for you. Let the Ning Wangfei give birth safely in the Chang Wang Manor, and this matter will be over."
She was speaking very politely.
But Wu Lingru stepped forward, suddenly staring fiercely at Luo Yunshu, her eyes filled with a venomous glare like that of a viper: "Now she wants to give birth safely? Then who should my child back then be blamed on?!"
She reached out and suddenly grabbed Song Chaoyu's arm: "Chang Wangfei, this is between me and the Ning Wangfei, please do not interfere!"
"Presumptuous!"
However, as soon as Wu Lingru grabbed Song Chaoyu's arm, Qiu Qing stepped forward and grabbed Wu Lingru's neck from behind: "What are you, to dare to cause trouble in the Chang Wang Manor?!"
Wu Lingru cried out in pain and quickly released Song Chaoyu.
She turned back angrily and glared at Qiu Qing, then said in a low voice to Song Chaoyu: "I have heard that when the Ning Wangfei was still unmarried, she was very overbearing and often bullied you. How is it that you are now helping her? Do you know that the Chang Wang's current predicament is partly her 'credit'!"
"Alas!"
Song Chaoyu suddenly frowned, shaking her head at Wu Lingru: "Side Consort Wu, one can eat anything, but one cannot speak carelessly. Moreover… I said, the child is innocent. I may not care about how Song Yanjiao is, but I cannot not care about the child in her womb. If you want to take her back now, then there is no need."
"And another thing!"
This time, it was Song Chaoyu's turn to grab Wu Lingru's arm, staring coldly at Wu Lingru: "I hope you will go back and tell His Highness the Ning Wang that he should come to see the Ning Wangfei. The Ning Wangfei and I came from the palace. The Ning Wangfei's water broke at the Empress's place."
Seeing a hint of fear appear in Wu Lingru's eyes, Song Chaoyu flung Wu Lingru's hand away: "If His Majesty finds out that the Ning Wang did not even show his face when the Ning Wangfei was giving birth, he will likely be even more angered! I do not concern myself with the disputes within your Ning Wang Manor, but the Prince must come today. Please convey this message back, Side Consort Wu."
She did not intend to keep Wu Lingru here either.
Wu Lingru was inwardly annoyed and somewhat afraid of Song Chaoyu.
Finally, she covered her wrist and turned to leave: "I will go and summon His Highness!"