Chapter 289: The Eldest Princess
In Her Ladyship Consort Hui’s palace, a Double Ringed Jade Vase filled with a bouquet of red and white begonia flowers stood on a high square table. These were a gift from the Empress to Consort Hui.
When Consort Hui went to pay respects to the Empress that morning, she naturally praised the flowers on the Empress’s desk.
The Empress then gifted them to her.
The Eldest Princess came to the palace today, first to visit the Empress, who was ill, and second to see her biological mother, Consort Hui.
The weather was warm, so the Eldest Princess wore only a pomegranate-red jacket with a dark floral pattern, paired with a lotus seed white silk skirt.
She was short, appearing no older than a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl from behind. Her face was delicate and pretty, with fine eyebrows and eyes, and small, thin lips.
“Have you seen the Empress? What did she say to you?” Consort Hui asked her daughter.
“What could she say? It’s the same as always,” the Eldest Princess replied. “She just lectured me on being harmonious with my husband and having a child soon. Every time I visit the palace, it’s the same speech; my ears are about to fall off.”
“Those are important words,” Consort Hui said. “Now that the Imperial Son-in-law is in the Capital City, you should hurry and have a child. Don’t I also wish to hold my grandchild?”
The Eldest Princess was displeased and it showed on her face: “Mother, do you think I don’t want a child? As if it’s that easy to have one just because I want it.”
“What, that method doesn’t work either?” Consort Hui asked.
“I’ve already told you, what use is that thing? If writing talismans worked, everyone would become a Taoist priest,” the Eldest Princess said dejectedly. “It’s also quite troublesome, requiring fasting, burning incense, and praying to the moon. What’s the point of all that effort? It’s just me toiling away for nothing.”
“But I heard that the Grand Princess asked for a talisman for Princess Duanmin, and she became pregnant not long after,” Consort Hui said. “Princess Duanmin couldn’t get pregnant for seven or eight years after her marriage, so how can you say it’s ineffective?”
“Oh, Mother, even if I wanted a child, I need someone to have it with. Dong Gang… he doesn’t even come into my room. After returning from Jiangnan, he only ate a few meals with me and runs off every day; I can’t even see him.” The Eldest Princess was at her wit’s end and could only speak the truth.
She felt utterly wronged. It wasn’t that her womb was infertile; it was simply that even the cleverest cook cannot prepare a meal without ingredients!
“How could this be?” Consort Hui’s eyes widened upon hearing this. She truly hadn’t considered this.
She had previously only thought that something had offended them, causing her daughter to be unable to conceive after three years of marriage.
This was why she had become superstitious about fertility talismans and even went to the trouble of having her attendants fetch them from outside the Palace.
Who knew it wasn’t the reason at all.
“Mother, you don’t know the kind of life I live every day. Every elder I meet urges me to have a child quickly, but having a child isn’t just my responsibility.” The Eldest Princess shed tears. “I can’t exactly tell everyone the truth; it would be too embarrassing. Even if they don’t say anything, they’ll inevitably think I’m incapable of keeping my husband.”
“Alright, alright, stop crying. Look how thin you are; your body is too weak, you need to eat more.” Consort Hui naturally doted on her daughter.
“I’m too ashamed to live, how can I have the appetite to eat? Outsiders see me as a pampered princess, but they don’t know the life I lead.” The Eldest Princess said, wiping her tears.
Consort Hui also found herself in a difficult position. If her daughter had married someone other than Dong Gang, in such a situation, she would have certainly confronted the other party and at least complained to the Empress.
But Dong Gang was the Empress’s nephew. Any wrong word could lead to the Empress’s displeasure.
Moreover, Dong Gang was someone who yielded to gentleness but not to force. If things were handled poorly, it would only drive his wife further away, which would be even worse.
“Good child, don’t cry. Listen to me, as women, we have two essential skills: one is patience, and the other is gentleness.
Since he is your husband, he is also your heaven. You don’t need to show him your grievances; that would make you seem like a resentful wife and only drive men further away.
Look at you now, you neither eat properly nor dress properly. How can this be?
What Wen Mingqian makes is very good. If you use it properly, you’ll see changes within a month. You are too thin; you need to find a way to nourish yourself,” Consort Hui explained carefully.
“It’s not that I don’t want to take care of myself, but my mother-in-law is often ill, and I manage most of the household affairs. How can I not worry?” The Grand Princess sighed. “If there is a next life, I would never want to be a woman. The best a woman can be is to be born into the imperial family, but even then, there are so many troubles one cannot avoid. I’d rather be a man selling wine or meat!”
“That’s nonsense! Who knows if there’s a next life? We must live well in the present,” Consort Hui said. “Coincidentally, in a few days, it will be your great-grandmother’s memorial day, and the Empress has also been ill lately. I was thinking of informing the Empress and going to Yu Zhen Temple to pray for blessings and perform rituals.”
“To Yu Zhen Temple? Didn’t we always do it in the Palace in previous years?” the Grand Princess asked.
“Oh, there have been so many things happening lately, haven’t there?” Consort Hui said. “Going to the Taoist Temple to perform rituals properly can ward off disaster and bad luck, and at least ease our worries.”
Consort Hui intended to pray for blessings for the Empress and simultaneously perform rituals for Grand Tutor Dong’s deceased wife.
She had always been adept at pleasing the Empress, so such an opportunity would naturally not fall to anyone else.
“You will also come with me and stay on Bowang Mountain.
Use this time to nourish your body, and also earn the goodwill of the Empress and the Dong Family.
If your husband still refuses to come to your room then, you can go and weep before the Empress. The Empress, remembering your relationship, will surely speak up for you,” Consort Hui had already planned it all out.
The Grand Princess listened and thought for a moment before saying, “Alright, I also want to relax. I feel too stifled at home. If he likes to run around outside, let him. If he’s mingling with those other women, he won’t be thinking of coming home.”
“You are still young! Children don’t know any better; a moment of dissatisfaction makes them think the sky is falling.” Consort Hui smiled. “Look at these begonia flowers, so bright red and fresh green, pleasing to the eye, but they wither in just a few days. However, this jade vase remains noble. The women outside are like these begonias, and you are like this jade vase. Why bother comparing yourself to them?”
“Mother, it’s still early. Why don’t I go and pay my respects to Princess Duanmin, and you can ask her about her child?” The Eldest Princess desperately wanted a child and now felt envious of anyone who was pregnant.
“Go ahead, go ahead. It’s good to visit various places when you come to the palace.” Consort Hui said, “Remember to come back for lunch later.”
