Chapter 152

Chapter 152: Don’t Disturb the Princess Consort

By the time Chun Zhi woke up the next day, it was already late morning. Little Xing Hui and Huo Zheng were not beside her. She sat up, put on a robe, and let the maids in to help her wash and dress. Qing Ye also came in.

Chun Zhi asked Qing Ye: “Where are the prince and the young master?”

Qing Ye smiled and said: “The prince is in the study, and the young master is with the wet nurse.”

All the maids knew the prince and the princess consort were very close, so they moved about with extra cheer. One maid giggled and said: “The prince carried the young master out early and told us not to disturb the princess consort, so she could sleep well.”

[In this whole Prince of Chang’an Manor, who but Huo Zheng would dare order everyone to let me sleep? We were at it again all last night. Good thing I slept through the morning.]

After washing and changing, Chun Zhi went to the side room to see Little Xing Hui. She was playing with her son when Yu Zhu returned.

Chun Zhi saw at once that Yu Zhu looked worn out. Her eyes were full of red veins, as if she had been crying for a long time. Chun Zhi asked: “Didn’t I tell you to go pick up your daughter? Why did you come back alone, and why did you let yourself get so run-down?”

Yu Zhu said: “I went to get Nian’er, but my mother-in-law would not let me bring her to the Prince’s Manor. She said I must have climbed a high branch and was planning to throw away my family and husband.”

Mother Ji’s words had been very nasty. She even grabbed Nian’er by force and would not let Yu Zhu go near.

Yu Zhu said: “I argued with Mother Ji in Qingyi Lane all night. There was nothing I could do, so I came back to the Prince’s Manor to ask you for help.”

Chun Zhi had already guessed that Yu Zhu was not living well, but she had not expected her mother-in-law to be so hard to deal with. She asked at once: “What about your cousin? What did he say?”

Yu Zhu, voice thick with tears, said: “He is on duty in the palace and has not been home these two days.”

“Don’t worry,” Chun Zhi said, handing Little Xing Hui to the wet nurse. “I will speak to the prince and have him send people to go with you and bring your daughter here.”

Yu Zhu was so grateful she did not know what to say. She bowed and said: “Thank you, Sister Chun Zhi.”

Chun Zhi said: “No need to be polite with me.” She helped Yu Zhu up and told Qing Ye to take her to the flower hall for some food. One look at Yu Zhu told Chun Zhi that she had not eaten properly since last night. Yu Zhu thanked her again and again, and Qing Ye helped her to the front hall.

Chun Zhi went to the study to find Huo Zheng. The attendant at the door saw the princess consort coming and, without waiting for orders, ran in to announce: “Prince, the princess consort is here.”

By the time Chun Zhi reached the door, Huo Zheng was already coming out. He asked: “You came to the study to find me. Is it something urgent?”

“It is,” Chun Zhi said. “Yesterday I told Yu Zhu to bring her daughter here to keep Little Xing Hui company, but her mother-in-law refused to let her take the girl, saying that coming to our Prince of Chang’an Manor would be climbing a high branch, and that she would, would…” She trailed off, embarrassed.

Seeing she found it hard to say, Huo Zheng did not press her. He said: “Then I will send people to go with Yu Zhu and bring her daughter here.”

That was exactly what Chun Zhi wanted. Seeing they were of one mind, she said: “Then I’ll trouble the prince.”

“It is a small matter,” Huo Zheng said. “Where is Yu Zhu now? I will have someone find her.”

“In the flower hall,” Chun Zhi said.

“Good,” he said. “Go back and rest. Leave the rest to me.”

“It is already late morning,” Chun Zhi said. “How can I still go rest?”

Huo Zheng raised his brows and said: “This is the Prince of Chang’an Manor, and you are my princess consort. You may rest as long as you like. Who would dare speak ill of you?”

[Maybe no one would say it to my face, but if I nap every day, won’t the maids all guess what I do at night? He never blushes, but my skin is not that thick.] Not wanting to continue on that topic, she only said: “Please pay extra attention to Yu Zhu’s matter. Do not forget.”

“The princess consort has spoken,” he said. “I will see to it at once.”

“Then I will go,” Chun Zhi said, turning to leave.

He reached out and caught her wrist: “You came to find me only for Yu Zhu? Is there nothing else you want to tell me?”

“No,” she said, pulling free and walking away quickly.

He watched her go until she vanished from sight, then turned back into the study and called: “Cheng Wen.”

An attendant stepped in and said: “Steward Cheng went out early to purchase supplies and has not returned.”

“Then…” Huo Zheng started to give new orders, but Gu Yuan Jia spoke up: “For such a small matter, let me take care of it for the prince.”

Huo Zheng looked at him and asked: “You heard all that?”

“I heard everything,” Gu Yuan Jia said. He knew Yu Zhu had gone home to fetch her daughter and had been blocked by her mother-in-law. Now Prince Chang’an would send someone to go with her and bring the child.

Steward Cheng, the Prince’s Manor steward, usually handled all matters well and had face outside. He would have been the best person to go with Yu Zhu, but he was out.

“Even if you heard it, it is not your turn to go,” Huo Zheng said. “It is only a matter of picking up a child. Anyone can go. Why trouble the great Young Master Gu?”

Gu Yuan Jia felt differently about Yu Zhu. Even knowing she had married and had a daughter, he still would not let go. If he ever learned that the girl was his, that would be serious.

Gu Yuan Jia smiled and said: “Please grant me a chance to speak openly with Yu Zhu.”

Huo Zheng said nothing for a moment.

Gu Yuan Jia added: “The prince and the princess consort are very close. Yu Zhu is often by the princess consort’s side, and I often come to the Prince’s Manor. We will surely meet again and again. She looks at me like she has seen a ghost, and I truly do not know why. No matter the reason, if I can talk with her, or if I help her this time so she feels grateful and stops fearing me, and we can interact normally in the future, that will also be good for the prince.”

Huo Zheng gave a short laugh and said: “This prince does not need such a good thing.”

“I need it,” Gu Yuan Jia said. With fan in hand, he bowed. “I earnestly beg the prince.”

Since Young Master Gu had begun working for Prince Chang’an, he had served with full effort. Seeing him like this, Huo Zheng thought for a moment, then nodded: “Very well, you go. Make sure you bring Yu Zhu’s daughter back safe and sound.”

Gu Yuan Jia smiled and said: “As you command.”

“And another thing,” Huo Zheng called after him. “Yu Zhu is no longer a maidservant of your Gu family. Do not use your Young Master tricks on her.”

“How would I dare,” Gu Yuan Jia said, feeling wronged, but Huo Zheng had no wish to say more and waved him out.

Gu Yuan Jia left the study, and an attendant led him to the front flower hall.

Yu Zhu was eating there, but her heart was with her daughter, so the food tasted like nothing. No matter how Qing Ye tried to comfort her, she could not eat much. After half a bowl of rice she put down her chopsticks, went to the doorway, and waited for the person the prince would send.

Before long, she saw an attendant leading Gu Yuan Jia over. [It must be a coincidence,] she thought. [He is just passing by.]

But Gu Yuan Jia, lightly fanning himself, walked straight to her and said: “Let us go.”