CHAPTER 315: CHAPTER 284: SHEDDING THE GOLDEN CICADA’S SHELL (FIRST UPDATE)

Wen Wan always thought it was some pampered guest, but unexpectedly, it turned out to be the rumored Princess Consort Duan, who was supposedly afflicted with a severe illness and ordered by the Emperor to be sent to Rehe Palace for isolation and recuperation.

She glanced at the other person, her gaze complex, but didn’t forget to kneel along with her in-laws to pay respects to Princess Consort Duan.

Princess Consort Duan stepped forward, lowered her gaze over the family kneeling before her, and revealed a kind smile, "The Emperor thought of using this method to let me nurture my pregnancy outside, it’s all for the safety of the Imperial Heir. In the coming months, I might have to trouble your family quite a bit."

With Princess Consort Duan’s explanation, Wen Wan instantly understood everything.

The so-called ’afflicted with a severe illness’ and ’isolation and recuperation’ were all just a guise to deceive Empress Su. Everything was simply because Princess Consort Duan was pregnant; Emperor Guangxi was worried that Empress Su might harm the Imperial Heir. Hence, he devised this perfect escape plan, sending Princess Consort Duan to Rehe Palace publicly, but actually having a stand-in stay five hundred miles away, while secretly bringing the real Princess Consort Duan back under his watchful eyes for care.

Song Wei’s closeness with Emperor Guangxi, having Princess Consort Duan nurture her pregnancy at the Song family, ensured safety—no outsiders could ever guess, and Emperor Guangxi could conveniently monitor his favorite concubine’s movements.

At this thought, Wen Wan couldn’t help but silently give the Emperor a thumbs up in her heart.

At the same time, she was secretly alarmed that the palace was indeed no place for ordinary folks—the moment you conceive, you are surrounded by predators.

If conceiving was a matter of luck, then successfully giving birth till the end must either be due to divine protection or highly skilled means.

Comparatively, while Wen Wan appeared calm, her mother-in-law was visibly frightened.

Although she had often heard Third Son mention the Emperor and knew her son often interacted with the Emperor, hearing it often desensitized her.

Encountering a living person from the Imperial Palace was a first for Granny Song, leaving her completely unsure of how to react.

On top of that, previously, because of the room arrangement, she harbored resentment towards this ’important guest.’ Now, knowing the person was the Emperor’s favored concubine, she was overwhelmed and couldn’t maintain composure.

Wen Wan noticed her mother-in-law was probably scared witless. After Princess Consort Duan bid them to rise, she personally bent over to assist.

Granny Song trembled as she stood, her legs still wobbly.

Sensing the Noble was looking at her, Granny Song dared not lift her head.

She felt incredibly uneasy and was simultaneously relieved that she hadn’t spoken too harshly earlier. Otherwise, if it reached the Noble’s ears, she would have brought great disaster upon her son.

Song Wei asked whether the room was prepared.

Wen Wan replied that it had been ready for a few days, fit for occupancy at any time. After speaking, she personally led Princess Consort Duan to the West Wing.

The room’s arrangement, given the Song family’s average conditions, was already extravagant, yet two palace maids frowned upon viewing it, clearly dissatisfied with the setup.

One of the palace maids spoke, "Princess Consort, please settle in first. After these days, the two of us will go out for some additions."

Princess Consort Duan didn’t find anything amiss; after sitting down, she looked at them and asked, "Do you know why the Emperor sent me to the Song family?"

The palace maid replied, "The Emperor hopes for a peaceful place for the Princess Consort to nurture her pregnancy."

Princess Consort Duan grinned, "What is peace?"

Seeing the palace maid unable to answer, she didn’t press further, motioning with her hand, "Considering that I’m nurturing a Dragon Successor, it’s only right to have high demands for food. As for the room furnishings, let’s follow the Song family’s arrangement; no need for extra additions."

"We abide by the Princess Consort’s instructions," both palace maids crouched down, daring not to show a hint of displeasure.

Afterward, they retreated; one heated water for the Princess Consort to soak her feet, while the other prepared a bowl of bird’s nest soup.

Princess Consort Duan raised her eyes to the silently standing Wen Wan beside her, her expression gentle, "Miss Song, there’s no need to be so restrained, please sit!"

Wen Wan didn’t sit, she spoke quietly, "Earlier, we didn’t know it was the Princess Consort arriving, hence the room might seem simple. Princess Consort, please make yourself at home. If anything feels amiss, please let me know, and I’ll do my utmost to make adjustments according to your preferences."

Princess Consort Duan chuckled softly, "Since I’m here to escape and nurture my pregnancy, I must adhere somewhat to outside regulations. If everything follows my preferences, I might as well return to the palace to enjoy."

Moreover, even if things were really adjusted to her likes, given the Song family’s conditions, it still falls far short.

Wen Wan understood Princess Consort Duan’s meaning—the Song family was a modest household. If too many precious items were added, outsiders might grow suspicious. Such actions would quickly draw attention from interested parties and inevitably expose Princess Consort Duan.

Having studied at Hongwen Academy for nearly a year, Wen Wan’s personality had grown considerably more cheerful than before, and she felt no restraint speaking with such a Noble as Princess Consort Duan.

Princess Consort Duan looked at Wen Wan, who was seated below her. Before coming, she had heard the Emperor mention that Miss Song was shy, and Princess Consort Duan thought she was someone unremarkable. Upon seeing Song Wei, and asking around, she learned that Miss Song studied at Hongwen Academy. She seemed to have done quite well there, as her manners and demeanor were exceptionally natural and pleasing, without a hint of pretentiousness.

Princess Consort Duan had been pregnant for three months. She discovered it over a month ago while in the palace, but didn’t announce it, and strictly ordered the attendants of Yonghe Palace not to mention it outside. As she approached four months and began to show, Princess Consort Duan had no choice but to feign illness to summon Emperor Guangxi to discuss a plan.

The Emperor, who was nearly a palm’s width in age, had only a thirteen-year-old Prince under his care, showing that Empress Su had not contributed much to his lineage.

Princess Consort Duan did not want to suffer the same fate as other concubines at the hands of Empress Su. Even if she were sent to the countryside, as long as she could safely give birth to an Imperial Heir, she would have no complaints.

...

The journey had been exhausting, and now sitting down with hardly a few words exchanged, Princess Consort Duan began to yawn repeatedly.

Wen Wan dared not linger, and when the palace maid came in with hot water to serve Princess Consort Duan for her foot soak, Wen Wan promptly excused herself and left the West Wing, heading directly to the main hall.

Granny Song was still shaken by her near-offense to the Noble, and when she saw her daughter-in-law return, she hurriedly asked, "How did it go? Did our room arrangement please Madam?"

Wen Wan didn’t mention the reaction of those two palace maids; she simply nodded and said, "Madam said it was quite good."

Granny Song let out a sigh of relief and patted her chest, "That’s good to hear."

Since learning that the esteemed guest was the Emperor’s favorite concubine, Granny Song’s heart had been on edge.

Wen Wan feared her mother-in-law might not overcome this anxiety, so she sat down to reassure her, "Mother, don’t overthink it. I observed that Princess Consort Duan has a kind nature, not the sort to anger easily. Besides, only a few of us know about the room preparations. If we don’t say anything, how would Madam find out?"

Despite the words, Granny Song couldn’t completely set her mind at ease, and her face carried less of its usual cheerful expression.

...

The arrival of Princess Consort Duan made the Song family’s New Year’s Eve somewhat awkward. Around the dinner table, everyone had different thoughts, except for the gluttonous Jinbao. It was his first time seeing so many dishes laid out, and he wanted to taste a little of everything, though most of it was not suitable for him. The little guy ended up drinking half a bowl of fish porridge before curling up in his mother’s arms and falling sound asleep.

This year, as usual, Granny Song and Old Song stayed up for the night, while Wen Wan and her husband went back to their room to sleep.

As she leaned against the headboard, Wen Wan asked Song Wei, "When did you take on this mission?"

Song Wei replied honestly, "Before leaving the capital, the Emperor had a secret conversation with me."

Originally, Emperor Guangxi’s plan was to send Princess Consort Duan five hundred miles away to Rehe Palace under the pretext of her ’being stricken with a severe illness,’ ensuring her safe delivery. However, someone suggested Song Wei, and after careful consideration, the Emperor figured that having Princess Consort Duan stay at the traveling palace would not guarantee her safety at all times, as it would take too long for anyone from the Imperial Palace to reach her in an emergency, and information would be hard to relay.

After pondering through the night, Emperor Guangxi decided to send Princess Consort Duan to the Song family.

Firstly, he trusted Song Wei’s character. Once he took on the responsibility, Song Wei would protect Princess Consort Duan at all costs, even with his life.

Secondly, Song Wei had people of Fanghua around him. Emperor Guangxi had witnessed the prowess of that group. Once Princess Consort Duan entered the Song household, protecting the Song family would indirectly mean protecting her. This way, he would not need to send his own people, thus reducing the chances of exposing Princess Consort Duan.

Moreover, with Song Wei’s regular audiences with the Emperor, any developments concerning Princess Consort Duan could be immediately known.

...

Wen Wan recalled Princess Consort Duan’s words from earlier and asked Song Wei, "Is Madam planning to stay with us until childbirth?"

Song Wei said that it wouldn’t be until childbirth, but at least until her pregnancy was completely stable, around seven or eight months in.

Wen Wan paused for a moment, then turned to look at her husband, "Do we need to pay our respects to Madam every day?"

"Madam prefers a quiet environment. Unless necessary, avoid disturbing her."

Wen Wan nodded her head, indicating she understood.

Song Wei looked back at Wen Wan and remembered her reaction outside the gate earlier that day, a gentle smile spreading across his handsome features, "What were you thinking about when you saw me earlier today, Wanwan?"

Her slightly envious expression did not escape his notice.

Wen Wan would never admit to being jealous; her ears turned a little red, and afraid her oddity might be found out, she burrowed herself into the covers, giving Song Wei only two words in reply: "Sleeping!"