Why My Domineering Prince Regretted Filing for Divorce?

Chapter 1026 - 747: Domestic Discord?

The entire Imperial Palace soon learned of this joyous event.For His Majesty the Emperor, having just reclaimed the Dragon Raising Land and with Princess Qin expecting, it seemed like an abundance of blessings. The people in the palace were adept at reading the Emperor’s mood. Seeing rewards continuously sent to Qianqiu Palace over consecutive days, and Yu Wenquan personally dining with King Qin and Princess Qin at Qianqiu Palace, they understood the importance His Majesty the Emperor placed on Princess Qin’s pregnancy.

After all, it might be the Imperial Grandson.

As such, palace members came one after another to congratulate Princess Qin, followed by dukes, ministers, and their wives. Although Shang Ruyi wanted to have a good rest, she no longer had the leisure to sleep in over several days. Every day, she had to rise early, dress, and wait for guests, exchange a few words, accept their gifts, and send them off one after another.

Sometimes, she was busy until sunset.

Yu Wenye returned to Qianqiu Palace that day and saw the table laden with gift boxes. Shang Ruyi was reclining tiredly to one side, clearly exhausted from conversing for a long time. Though weary, she still managed to muster the energy to go over the gifts before asking Tushere to put them away, frowning as she did so.

He sat next to Shang Ruyi, observing her visibly fatigued expression, and asked, "Did someone visit again today?"

Shang Ruyi replied with a smile, "Zhang Jieyu came over to sit for a while."

After Yu Wenquan ascended the throne, it was natural for him to fill the harem. Still, whether he was nostalgic or for other reasons, he had not appointed an Empress, only a few ladies by his side, Zhang Yuping being one of them. At thirty-something, she was exceptionally beautiful, charming, and well-liked in the palace, being favored greatly by Yu Wenquan.

Today, she had come as an elder, so Shang Ruyi had to host her. Fortunately, she didn’t come empty-handed, bringing a box of lingzhi and some fine jewelry, all quite valuable.

Yu Wenye glanced at the gift boxes and said, "You’re too exhausted dealing with these people every day. Perhaps you should just refuse visitors."

Shang Ruyi immediately replied, "How could I do that?"

In fact, she preferred avoiding trouble when possible, but now as Princess Qin, she was different from when she was unmarried or even as Young Madam Yu Wen in the past. Not only did she have to entertain guests, but she also had to engage with duchess wives and the likes of Zhang Jieyu, who spent more time with Yu Wenquan than even his sons. Any emotions conveyed in their words would naturally reach the Emperor’s ears, affecting his mood to some extent.

Even though she was pregnant, she couldn’t afford to neglect such people.

After listening to her, Yu Wenye’s expression darkened slightly but did not argue further. After a moment of silence, he reached out to take her hand, "I’m just concerned you’ll be too tired."

Shang Ruyi immediately smiled, "Just exchanging pleasantries daily, how tiring could it be?"

"..."

"It’s much easier than back at Xingluo Granary, or in Fufeng, much lighter."

"How could it be the same?"

Yu Wenye thought for a moment, then turned to Tushere, who was about to place a gift box in storage, "Keep an eye on the Princess. If anyone stays too long and she’s exhausted, pretend someone is announcing my return. They’ll naturally avoid me."

Tushere, who had long felt compassion for their Miss, forced to deal with people daily with a cheerful face, immediately beamed, "I understand!"

She said this and happily carried the box outside.

Shang Ruyi, however, said helplessly, "What if they find out you haven’t returned? It wouldn’t be good."

Yu Wenye replied, "I only care about you, not others."

Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but laugh.

But no matter what, with Yu Wenye back by her side, not only did her mood improve, but she also didn’t feel as tired. After dinner, the couple bathed together. Bathed and warmed, they returned to the room; Yu Wenye was already dressed in his sleepwear, lying on the bed. Shang Ruyi, familiar with the routine, lay beside him, and Yu Wenye immediately wrapped her in his arms.

He said, "Let’s sleep early tonight."

"Mm."

Shang Ruyi nodded, watched him extinguish the candle, and obediently closed her eyes, burying her face in his embrace.

Soon, the inner hall fell into silence.

After a while, in the pitch-black quiet, Yu Wenye’s soft voice broke the silence, seemingly conscientious or unconsciously asking, "Besides Zhang Jieyu, who else visited today?"

Shang Ruyi replied, "In the morning, Father Emperor specially sent the Chief Imperial Doctor to check my pulse, so no one else came. In the afternoon, Duchess Wushan sat for a while. Later, it was Zhang Jieyu."

"No one else?"

"That’s all."

"..."

Yu Wenye was quiet for a moment, his breath seeming heavier than before, but he spoke no more, only gently embracing Shang Ruyi, "Sleep."

"Hmm."

Just like that, Shang Ruyi slept soundly until daylight. Probably because too many people had visited the previous days, finally no one came that day. She slept well, and when she woke up, Yu Wenye had already left. So she leisurely got up to wash, and after having breakfast, she took a walk around the Qianqiu Palace with Tushere. The weather was great, and Shang Ruyi felt much more at ease.

Tushere laughed, "It’s rare, no one disturbed the Princess’s rest today."

Shang Ruyi nodded but said to her, "By the way, you mustn’t take seriously what King Qin said to you yesterday. It would be bad if you offended someone."

Tushere pouted and looked around, "Alright, anyway, I suppose no one will disturb the Princess next."

Shang Ruyi chuckled.

But after laughing, her expression gradually became serious. Actually, that question Yu Wenye asked last night, although she was a bit drowsy, she still remembered it in her heart. Moreover, it was clear who Yu Wenye was asking about.

The news of Princess Qin’s pregnancy had spread, and those who could come to congratulate did, and those who couldn’t sent gifts with others. However, some people had yet to visit.

For instance — Shang Shoufei.

Even Shang Ruyi found this odd.

Although she didn’t want any entanglements with this brother, and when she last saw him at Shen Mansion, she was not only angry but also found it troublesome. But knowing that he was a sycophant and shameless person who took advantage of her glory to nab a post from Yu Wenquan, yet didn’t congratulate her as a brother or even as an official after learning of her pregnancy.

This was unlike him.

This was one thing, and the other was — Chu Ruoyan.

Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi happened to walk up to the door of the Qianqiu Palace. She couldn’t help but look up towards the Jinyu Garden beside the palace, and then noticed Tushere was also straining her neck to look over, her face showing both complaint and a frown.

After watching for a while, she couldn’t help but whisper, "Princess, what is she up to?"

"..."

This time, Shang Ruyi didn’t speak.

Regarding Chu Ruoyan’s behavior—actually, ever since entering the palace, Chu Ruoyan had never done anything to her. They were like strangers despite the indifference, which Shang Ruyi tolerated and preferred this peace. However, things were different this time. As the pregnant Princess Qin, as a concubine of King Qin, Chu Ruoyan should have been the first to come and congratulate.

It’s not only a matter of etiquette but also about keeping face.

However, since the news of her pregnancy spread, it had already been seven days, even the Duchess of Duke Wushan had come to congratulate, but Chu Ruoyan, who lived right next to the Qianqiu Palace, had not.

Was she trying to embarrass her, or was she up to something else?

Shang Ruyi thought for a while and asked, "She’er, have any of you gone into the Jinyu Garden these couple of days? Do you know what’s going on inside?"

Tushere said, "We don’t associate with them, and you, Princess, have advised us not to provoke them, so how could we enter the Jinyu Garden? However, these days when we pass by, I only see it being chaotic in there."

"Chaotic? What do you mean?"

"It seems they’re also clearing out storage rooms. It’s odd because we clear them out to organize the gifts we’ve received; no one’s visiting them, where do they get things to organize?"

"..."

"Moreover, what’s more frustrating is they’ve started a small kitchen."

"A small kitchen?"

Shang Ruyi looked surprised at Tushere, who nodded earnestly, "Really, I saw smoke and later asked the Food Bureau. It’s said that the lady asked them for pots and pans, who knows what for."

With that, she pouted, "The Princess is pregnant and didn’t do such a thing, yet she’s all hale and hearty setting up her own little kitchen. Really—"

Shang Ruyi pondered for a moment and waved her hand, "No problem, let’s wait a few more days and see."

No matter what, she had to maintain King Qin’s reputation and dignity. Even if she didn’t get along well with Chu Ruoyan, the surface had to remain smooth. If Chu Ruoyan indeed stubbornly refused to come and congratulate her, she had to find a way, otherwise tongues would wag, causing not only her to lose face, but also bringing Chu Ruoyan disrepute with Yu Wenquan, and potentially giving Yu Wenye a bad name as a man of a disordered household.

However, by the second day, this bad reputation completely shattered.

That afternoon, after a nap, Shang Ruyi was reclining on the couch, drinking tea and reading a book, when she heard a flurry of footsteps break the quiet of the palace. Looking up, it was Tushere who rushed in from outside, her face a mix of tension and a smile. She walked up to Shang Ruyi and greeted her, "Princess."

Shang Ruyi looked at her, "What happened?"

Tushere, smiling yet with restraint, leaned over to whisper in her ear, "Princess, people from Jinyu Garden have come to deliver gifts!"