The noble girl is beautiful. - Chapter 56

When Dowager Empress Shu spoke, many people turned to look at Shen Yourong. She maintained a calm expression, seemingly unaffected by Dowager Empress Shu’s words, and sat upright at the table.

“Aunt, that’s not quite right,” Consort Hui said with a sweet smile. “I’ve heard that Aunt has always been very fond of Sister Yourong and has often called her into the palace for guidance. Sister Yourong has grown so elegant and graceful, and Aunt deserves some credit for that.”

Dowager Empress Shu had been very affectionate towards Shen Yourong when she was a consort, but Shen Yourong had quietly become involved with Prince Duan, which led people to think badly of her.

The guests discreetly looked towards her. She smiled and addressed Consort Hui, “Consort Hui, by rank, you should call me ‘aunt’ rather than referring to me as ‘sister’ or ‘young lady.’”

Laughter erupted among the crowd, and everyone turned towards the sound, noticing Shen Qingyan clearing her throat and maintaining a serious expression, as if nothing had happened.

The crowd then looked at Consort Hui, who was visibly unsettled, her smile completely gone.

Dowager Empress Shu’s expression also soured, and she gave a disapproving glance at Consort Hui for not being more astute.

“Let’s not sit here any longer; it’s quite stuffy. Let’s move to the Imperial Garden, where the opera has been prepared,” Dowager Empress Shu said as she led everyone to the theater in the garden.

The theater was two stories high, offering a wide view of the stage below. Dowager Empress Shu and Consort Hui took their seats at the top, with eunuchs carrying incense burners and several palace maids following behind.

Shen Qingyan and Shen Yourong were seated a little farther away but paid no mind. Shen Qingyan remarked, “This is convenient; we can talk more easily.”

The two sisters sat down side by side. Although there were braziers in the theater, the open space did not block the wind. Shen Yourong found herself sitting in a draft and felt cold after a short while of talking with Shen Qingyan.

Seeing this, Shen Qingyan instructed Du Juan, “Go to my palace and bring a few hand warmers.” She also handed her own hand warmer to Shen Yourong. “Use mine for now.”

Shen Yourong took the hand warmer and smiled, “In such a large palace, are we really short of hand warmers?”

Shen Qingyan shook her head, disdainfully saying, “Even if you ask, they might not give you any. These are just petty tricks to trouble people; they are beneath us.”

Shen Yourong glanced at Dowager Empress Shu and Consort Hui, feeling not only pity but also disgust. “Those two seem to be quite close now.”

Consort Hui, who was pregnant, said, “Since I became pregnant, I’ve been uncomfortable and unable to eat or sleep well. The baby kicks at night, disturbing my sleep.”

Dowager Empress Shu patted her hand and said, “It’s a good sign if the baby is active; it means the child is strong and healthy.”

“Yes,” another matron added, “When I was pregnant with my son, he was very active day and night, and he turned out to be very healthy and robust.”

Dowager Empress Shu and Consort Hui both smiled, and Dowager Empress Shu’s gaze shifted to Shen Yourong. She smiled and said, “Prince Duan’s wife has been married for several months, yet there is no sign of pregnancy. He is not young; it’s important to have an heir soon.”

Shen Yourong smiled and replied, “Thank you for your concern, Dowager Empress.”

She said nothing more, leaving those who were waiting to see how she would respond disappointed. They had no choice but to focus on Dowager Empress Shu.

Dowager Empress Shu did not expect her comment to have no effect. She sneered and said, “I heard that Prince Duan’s wife often had health issues before marriage. Now that she’s married into his house, she should see a doctor soon. If there is indeed an issue with having children, it would be problematic.”

This statement shocked everyone. Dowager Empress Shu was essentially suggesting that Shen Yourong might be infertile.

Shen Qingyan’s expression also darkened. She knew that Shen Yourong had struggled with menstrual pain at home and had consulted doctors a couple of times, but it had not been resolved. She found it ridiculous that Dowager Empress Shu had turned this into an issue of infertility.

Shen Yourong paused for a moment and then smiled. “Consort Hui is fortunate; she became pregnant just a month after entering the palace, which shows the ancestors’ blessings and favor.”

The crowd’s expressions grew even more peculiar. Consort Hui was someone else’s wife before entering the palace and became pregnant within a month. Whose blessing could that be?

Consort Hui’s face turned pale, and she looked at Shen Yourong with a hint of panic. “What nonsense are you talking about! How dare you slander me!”

Shen Yourong replied with a gentle smile, “I wouldn’t dare.”

Just as the crowd was in a standoff, a eunuch announced that the Emperor and Prince Duan had arrived.

The theater became chaotic, and even Dowager Empress Shu stood up. After a while, a eunuch came and said that the Emperor did not wish to go upstairs and requested everyone to come downstairs.

Dowager Empress Shu ordered everyone to move downstairs.

Shen Yourong noticed that Shen Qingyan, who had been talking with her, suddenly fell silent, her expression gloomy and unreadable.

Once downstairs, everyone bowed to the Emperor. The Emperor, looking gloomy, said, “No need for formalities.”

Shen Yourong stood up straight and saw Ji Zhuo beside him. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his presence strikingly noble against the dim sky and swirling snow.

She walked over to him, who adjusted her cloak and said, “The snow is heavy. I came to pick you up.”
She was stunned and nodded slightly.

Ji Zhuo, standing next to her, addressed the Emperor calmly, “If Your Majesty has no other matters, this prince will take his leave now.”

With that, he did not look back at the Emperor but took Shen Yourong’s hand and turned to leave with her.

The crowd fell silent, having heard Ji Zhuo’s voice, which was gentle and low. He held Shen Yourong’s hand as they departed.

The Emperor, disinterested in the spectacle, ignored everyone and left without acknowledging Dowager Empress Shu. Dowager Empress Shu and Consort Hui both had sour expressions. Consort Hui started to experience stomach pains, and Dowager Empress Shu quickly had her sent back to the palace.

The court ladies and relatives dispersed, and people quietly discussed Shen Yourong. Given Ji Zhuo’s attitude, it was clear he favored his little princess consort, but according to Dowager Empress Shu, Shen Yourong’s health made it difficult for her to conceive.

How long could she maintain her position? Would people continue to give her face or not?

Unaware of these discussions, Shen Yourong fell ill once she returned home. She had her period, caught a cold, and was suffering from a cough and headache, looking quite miserable.

With the sky overcast and herself feeling weak, she had trouble getting up due to back pain and experienced bizarre dreams, sweating profusely.

Du Juan went to find the doctor, and soon the physician arrived with a medicine box, accompanied by the stern-faced Ji Zhuo.

The physician, not daring to be negligent, carefully examined Shen Yourong’s pulse, wrote a prescription, and advised that she should avoid catching a cold.

Ji Zhuo inquired about her menstrual condition, “Is it regular?”

The physician replied, “Yes, it is quite regular, just very painful.”

The physician was surprised that the prince knew about these details and said, “Women’s gynecological issues are difficult to treat; it requires long-term care. For now, treat the cold first, and I will prescribe some pain relief medicine to make the princess more comfortable.”

Ji Zhuo glanced at the prescription and said, “Get the medicine.”

Du Juan quickly led the physician out to rest in the side room and took the prescription to prepare the medicine.

Shen Yourong remained in a deep slumber. Ji Zhuo sat by her bed and gently touched her cheek.

After an unknown period, the faint crackling of the candle woke her. She opened her eyes, saw the lotus canopy above, and paused before calling out for someone.

Ji Zhuo was sitting by the bed, and upon seeing her awake, he lifted her and helped her sit up with a bolster.

He brought her some warm tea, and she sipped it slowly.

He watched her and sighed softly, “Princess, you really worry people.”

Shen Yourong looked up at him. Her face was pale, and her lips had lost color, making her look even more pitiful.

Ji Zhuo, unable to be angry with her, gently asked, “Are you hungry? Would you like to eat something?”

She nodded and tried to get out of bed. He stopped her and had a low table brought over.

“Eating in bed is not appropriate,” She said.

He was unconcerned, “The physician said you caught a cold. Moving back and forth like this will only make it worse.”

He looked at her and said, “I’ll take care of you personally; no one will say you’re not proper.”

Shen Yourong thought for a moment and then agreed.

Ji Zhuo, looking at her, suddenly smiled and said, “You’re young, but you have many rules. Have you lived like this all these years?”

Calling her “Miss” again, he noticed that she suddenly felt a lump in her throat.

Being a well-behaved and virtuous young lady was not easy. A ruler was embedded in her back and words, dictating her every move.

He touched her cheek, “I knew it. You haven’t been happy all these years.”

Shen Yourong opened her mouth, but the illness had lowered her ability to control her emotions, and tears rolled down her face before she could speak.

“I don’t want to follow so many rules,” she said, looking at Ji Zhuo with red eyes. “I don’t want to wake up at dawn, I don’t want to attend those gatherings of ladies. I want to go out, to see the streets, I want to ride horses—I can actually ride. I also want to hear He Xiaofang sing. After he became famous, people said his singing wasn’t proper, and I haven’t heard him sing in a long time.”