Chapter 15: The Crown Prince

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Even though Mo Chun did think rather highly of Yun Dai, it wasn’t highly enough for her to accept punishment for Yun Dai’s actions.

As she watched the dish getting served, she thought about the expression on the faces of the Crown Prince and the ladies when they smelled it…

Mo Chun’s mood was completely ruined now.

Yun Dou was gleeful inside and couldn’t wait to watch their employers fly into a rage and punish Yun Dai.

As for Mi Dou, she became very anxious and just kept munching on a large bun.

When she was happy, she ate. When she was unhappy, she ate too. When she was anxious, she definitely had to eat.

The atmosphere in the kitchen seemed to have frozen over.

Only Hong Dou went out to the vegetable patch and watered the little carrots. She wasn’t bothered by anything around her.

The food was sent straight to the Cloud Light Court where Lady Lin of Decorous Service lived.

Lady Lin of Decorous Service had charming features, and, even though her status wasn’t very high, she had been given to the Crown Prince by the Empress, so she had some clout.

Since it was her birthday, Consort Chen and Filial Lady Guo of Excellence had both been invited over for her birthday dinner.

“Lady Lin of Decorous Service is really dressed to the nines today. I suppose His Highness is going to spend the night here. Why call both of us over in that case?” A maid supported Consort Chen as she walked in. Consort Chen was immediately annoyed by how Lady Lin of Decorous Service had dressed herself so seductively.

Her words were obviously an attack on Lady Lin of Decorous Service.

Lady Lin of Decorous Service’s face was full of smiles. “My dear sister, what are you saying? In that case, I’ll tell His Highness not to come over anymore, and the three of us sisters can just have a good meal and chitchat tonight.”

“Oh, no, don’t do that.” Consort Chen laughed gently. “You’ve gone through so much trouble to prepare all this, and I wouldn’t dare to ruin your wonderful plans.”

After that, Filial Lady Guo of Excellence arrived as well. She was dressed plainly as usual and didn’t say anything else after she politely greeted the other two ladies.

She had a timid, withdrawn sort of personality. Even though she was from an upper-class scholarly family, she wasn’t very pretty, but weak and quiet.

Nobody really cared about her in the East Palace, and compared to the beautiful, classy Consort Chen and the charming, gentle Lady Lin of Decorous Service, she really didn’t stand out at all.

As such, nobody was ever worried about her.

The three of them sat down to chat about how the eldest prince’s consort was already pregnant with her third child.

Consort Chen looked a little upset.

After all, the eldest prince already had two sons and a daughter, but the Crown Prince had no descendants thus far. This was a problem that the palace often worried about.

Even if he couldn’t have a son, at least he should have a daughter. The three concubines of the East Palace had entered the palace three years ago already, but none of their tummies showed any sign of pregnancy.

The royal family wasn’t the only one who was anxious. Consort Chen herself was anxious and frustrated also.

She wished she could just eat so much that her tummy would grow bigger. It was better than having others stare at it all day long.

There were some who suspected that there was something wrong with the Crown Prince.

But the palace doctor had checked him out already and said that besides having a weak constitution, the Crown Prince didn’t have any other problems, and he was definitely able to continue the royal family’s bloodline.

Except for Filial Lady Guo of Excellence, the others, Consort Chen and Lady Lin of Decorous Service, pulled all sorts of tricks every day in hopes of getting the Crown Prince to spend the night in their rooms.

Whoever could give birth to the Crown Prince’s eldest child first would definitely gain a huge advantage.

Today was Lady Lin of Decorous Service’s birthday, and she had put a lot of effort into her dressing today. She had even prepared something rather special. She was determined to make the Crown Prince stay the night, so that she could successfully become pregnant.

Zhao Yuanjing hadn’t wanted to come initially.

But, as he walked past, he smelled something really special, so he couldn’t help but walk in.

When Lady Lin of Decorous Service saw that the Crown Prince had arrived, she was beside herself with joy and quickly got up to welcome him.

Consort Chen scoffed to herself, then got up to greet the Crown Prince as well.

“The three of you are actually all here together.” Zhao Yuanjing casually waved his hand and allowed them to get up, as his eyes looked toward the table.

He was looking for where that strange fragrance was coming from.