CHAPTER 551: CHAPTER 551 SOUR PLUM

Since it was a complaint, it couldn’t go without some exaggeration.

The gatekeeping maid said Caiju was bullying others by relying on power, asserting the token wasn’t from Peony Garden but mentioned the Heir’s wife to intimidate her.

She claimed that Princess Nanzhang was still the one in charge of the household, to which Caiju retorted that there might be a change in authority one day.

With just a few words, the gatekeeping maid escalated Princess Nanzhang’s anger to a new height.

Originally, the Prince hadn’t formally made her the Princess Consort, so her managing the inner court as a concubine lacked legitimacy.

Plus, the Prince had once considered letting Su Jin manage the household, for which she had lost over three thousand taels.

This resentment had been brewing in Princess Nanzhang’s heart.

With the gatekeeping maid provoking her now, Princess Nanzhang became furious and harshly scolded the maid.

The maid was only good at complaining and not at stopping people.

The Heir’s wife’s maids could handle things independently, while her subordinates were only capable of failing tasks.

The scolding left the gatekeeping maid in a daze.

She intended to please the Commandery Princess, so why did she end up being scolded?

Fortunately, she only got scolded and wasn’t punished further.

The gatekeeping maid didn’t gain any favor and went back, dejected, to continue her duty.

The maid Hong Ying looked at Princess Nanzhang and said, "The maid from Qingqiu Garden came to Peony Garden for a token, but I didn’t give it to her."

"I didn’t expect she went to get it from the Heir’s wife."

"I wonder what urgent matter made it necessary for her to leave the manor?" Hong Ying looked suspicious.

Mrs. Zhao looked at Bilan, "Weren’t you going out of the manor? That maid probably hasn’t gone far; follow and see."

Bilan nodded repeatedly.

Bilan was a senior maid, so she could call for a carriage when leaving the manor.

Caiju could only walk, and there was no way she would catch up, instead getting left far behind.

After catching up to Caiju, Bilan got off the carriage and quietly followed behind.

These maids like Caiju usually had no chance to go out, so everything seemed novel to them—hairpins, earrings—they were delighted just looking without buying.

Bilan found it uninteresting.

But gradually, she felt something was off.

Because Caiju was interested in tiger head shoes.

She looked at them for a long time, as well as at small bellybands, tiger head hats, and rattles...

Ultimately, she bought two large bags of sour plums and two bags of pastries before returning to the manor.

Bilan, "...".

Having offended the gatekeeping maid, when Bilan returned, the maid wanted to check her luggage using the excuse that she might bring in dirty items.

Caiju was unwilling but had to open her luggage.

The gatekeeping maid snatched a handful, and Caiju could only swallow her anger.

She quickly grabbed her bundle and ran away.

Feeling triumphant, the gatekeeping maid was in a great mood.

Guarding the gate was a cushy job; unless they were senior or second-class maids, the younger maids were free for her to bully.

She popped a sour plum into her mouth, and the sourness made her eyes squint.

Ptooey, ptooey!

She spat the plum out.

The sourness brought tears to her eyes, "So sour, how could anyone eat this?"

She was about to throw the sour plums away when another maid said, "Hey, don’t throw it."

The gatekeeping maid looked at her, "Not throwing it, but are you going to eat it? Aren’t you afraid of it making your teeth ache?"

"I won’t eat it, I’ll give it as a gift. Nanny Liu’s daughter-in-law is pregnant, and this sour stuff is just what she likes," the other maid laughed.

She took the plate and walked away.

Bilan, standing by the side gate, happened to hear this.

Her eyebrows knitted tightly.

Could it be that Lady Chi was pregnant?

But the Prince hadn’t stayed overnight in Qingqiu Garden, and besides, Lady Chi’s appearance was ruined.

Just the other day, Hong Ying had taken the doctor to feel Lady Chi’s pulse, and there was no mention of pregnancy, so she must be overthinking it.

But why was Caiju interested in tiger head shoes and bought so many sour plums?

Bilan followed Caiju to Agarwood Pavilion.

Then—

Bilan misunderstood.

She thought Su Jin was pregnant.

The sour plums were for Su Jin.

Upon returning to Peony Garden, Bilan reported her observations to Princess Nanzhang.

Mrs. Zhao said, "But didn’t the Heir’s wife and Young Master not consummate their marriage?"

Princess Nanzhang’s face turned cold, "Those two foxes!"

"If it wasn’t for saving Mrs. Wang yesterday, the Heir’s wife wouldn’t have exposed her exceptional medical skill!"

"Who knows when they might consummate and she’ll conceive."

Thinking back to forcing Su Jin to drink sterility medicine, Princess Nanzhang felt foolish.

She always thought it was an open secret, but it turned out to be the other way around!

Mrs. Zhao did not dare to speak further.

She knew what Princess Nanzhang intended; she wouldn’t let the Heir’s wife give birth to a child.

But since the Heir’s wife was skilled in medicine, they had no opportunity to succeed.

Mrs. Zhao looked at Princess Nanzhang and said, "Could it be a misunderstanding?"

"After all, the Heir’s wife fell off a cliff; if she were pregnant, I doubt she could have kept it."

"Besides, the maid from Qingqiu Garden went to find the Heir’s wife’s maid to get out of the manor, only to buy two bags of pastries. Something’s off here."

Mrs. Zhao suspected either Bilan missed something, or Caiju noticed and didn’t buy what she wanted.

Bilan insisted that Caiju didn’t notice her.

Princess Nanzhang disliked guessing and said, "Have someone keep an eye on Qingqiu Garden and report any movement immediately."

There must be something wrong with Qingqiu Garden.

The Prince had been visiting Qingqiu Garden as much as he had in the past ten years.

Even if it was partly because of the Heir’s wife, the Prince wasn’t someone easily swayed by others.

What she couldn’t obtain, no one else should hope to get!

...

Agarwood Pavilion, backyard.

Caiju gave Xingxing a pack of osmanthus cakes and half a plate of sour plums.

Xingxing arranged them on a plate and brought them for Su Jin to taste.

Su Jin was lying on a small couch reading a book; she tried one and almost exploded from the taste.

Xie Jingchen looked at her.

Su Jin smiled, "The taste is truly nice, not sour at all."

"Husband, you should try it too."

She handed one to Xie Jingchen, who, without much thought, opened his mouth.

After all, he seldom enjoyed the privilege of Su Jin feeding him like this.

The feeling was quite good.

After chewing twice.

Xie Jingchen, "...".

The face slap was surprisingly swift.

While Su Jin could endure it, Xie Jingchen was truly shocked.

After spitting it out, his teeth stayed sour for quite a while.

Having been teased by Su Jin, Xie Jingchen wouldn’t let it slide; he reached out an arm, pulled Su Jin into his embrace, and kissed her hard.

Xingxing covered her face and ran away.

Then—

She ran out the door and bumped into a young maid.

She nearly knocked the girl down the steps.

The young maid screamed.

Xingxing hurriedly said, "Are you hurt?"

Even if it hurt, she had to say it didn’t.

"Not hurt," the young maid grimaced, grimacing.

Xingxing looked at her, "What’s your business inside?"

The young maid quickly said, "Someone came from the front yard with a message, saying the Heir’s wife should return once she’s well."

The young maid spoke loudly, and Su Jin heard it clearly.

She pushed Xie Jingchen away and glared at him, "I’ll go back tomorrow."

"I’ll go with you," Xie Jingchen said, still lingering.

Su Jin took a sour plum, biting it slowly with relish.

Xie Jingchen looked at her, "You dare to eat more?"

"Why not, it’s quite tasty," she said.

If you took small bites, the taste was just right.

Xie Jingchen picked up a book and moved far away.

Just looking at her made his teeth ache.