CHAPTER 512: CHAPTER 512 DARK THOUGHTS

Consort Zhou sat dazedly in the chair, silently shedding tears.

"Princess, don’t overthink it. What you did was right. Having another woman share the Prince’s favor is better than that Bai girl’s monopolizing it," Li Mama looked at Li shi with heartache. She was the wet nurse of the Princess and treated Li shi like a daughter after losing her own son, showing absolute loyalty to her.

Consort Zhou pressed the handkerchief to the corner of her eyes, speaking bitterly: "Nanny, I know this, but he didn’t even pretend to refuse, which makes it hard for me."

No woman dislikes their man being devoted to them, and she was no exception. Although she knew it was impossible, she still had some fantasies. However, reality slapped her hard.

"Princess, you should have expected this. How could the Prince be a man of fidelity? Nong Qin is your maidservant, with her indenture in your hands. Can she possibly defy you? Nong Qin’s figure is no worse than that Bai girl’s, and being new, her sharing Bai’s favor benefits you," Li Mama whispered, "If Nong Qin is fortunate and gets pregnant, it will be even more advantageous."

Nong Qin was specially chosen from the Li Mansion to be Li shi’s maid, with excellent looks and figure, just in preparation for such a day.

"No matter how competent she is, it’s better if I surpass her." Consort Zhou touched her abdomen, cursing herself inwardly. Surprisingly, her stomach wasn’t cooperating, with no news at all.

Li Mama’s lips tightened, comforting, "You’ve been married to the Prince for less than a year."

"Yet Bai shi only entered a few months ago."

Li Mama sighed, saying, "That’s why, Princess, you must prepare. If Bai shi truly gives birth to the eldest son..."

Consort Zhou’s fingers curled slightly, and her lips tensed coldly.

The bitterness at the corners of her mouth intensified.

She shook her head, saying, "Nanny, it’s not just that the Prince values Bai shi’s pregnancy, even Her Ladyship values it. Otherwise, why would she send gifts every few days? It must be to warn me, not for Bai shi’s face!"

To warn her not to harm Bai shi, not to urge her to hurry up and get pregnant.

She was never favored by Prince Zhou, who found her too stiff with her emphasis on maintaining propriety, even finding their intimate moments dull and lacking pleasure, let alone getting pregnant.

So, if she engaged in underhanded tactics, whether discovered or not, there would be no turning back.

"She hasn’t even shown a pregnancy bump yet; who knows if it’s a son? Even if she gives birth to a child, it would be a concubine’s offspring, unable to compete with a legitimate heir." Consort Zhou tried to convince herself.

Li Mama did not agree, saying, "My silly girl, the Imperial Family’s concubines’ children are more esteemed than many others. The issue is not about legitimacy, but about being the first Imperial Grandson. Prince Xiao’s Mansion had a Commandery Princess. If Bai shi gives birth to a little prince, it would be the Emperor’s first male grandson."

Consort Zhou’s face turned deathly pale.

"Princess, this firstborn is weightier. Look at Prince Xiao; so what if he’s born of a concubine? He holds the title of eldest, which makes his status heavier," Li Mama’s voice was low and heavy: "Princess, the Emperor loves his eldest son, while commoners love their youngest, don’t you understand?"

Consort Zhou clutched her chest, her mouth bitter, saying, "Let me think, let me think some more."

Li Mama nodded, suggesting, "Princess, there are many unexpected occurrences. If the plan is thorough, it can keep us out of trouble."

Consort Zhou said nothing, only her knuckles turning white.

That night, Consort Bai learned that Consort Zhou had sent her maid to Prince Zhou’s bed, causing her to smash a set of rain-blue teacups in anger and curse her for pretending to be magnanimous and virtuous.