Testing the Waters
"Prince of An's Consort is pregnant, so it's best if Prince of An's Consort doesn't worry about things too much. I have my own plans, so there's really no need for you to trouble yourself," Zhao Ruxi said, standing up and looking at Cen Peixuan. "If Your Highness has nothing else, then I'll take my leave."
She bowed and left before Cen Peixuan could speak.
Cen Peixuan trembled with rage, pointing at Zhao Ruxi's retreating figure. "How dare she... how could she..."
Nanny Wan sighed and comforted Cen Peixuan, saying, "Never mind, Your Highness. Don't let her upset you. Nothing is more important than the child in your womb right now. Let the Imperial Concubine worry about these matters."
Cen Peixuan also values the baby in her womb very much.
This is a child that Xiao Lingpu and the Cen Family have been eagerly anticipating, and she also needs a son to solidify her position. It's really not worth ruining her health over Zhao Ruxi.
She tried her best to calm herself down and made up her mind to ignore Zhao Ruxi no longer.
After returning home, Zhao Ruxi wrote another letter and had it delivered openly to Xiao Lingyan. After reading the letter Xiao Lingyan sent two baskets of fruit to the Earl of Suiping's Residence.
Upon hearing this news, Cen Peixuan had just sworn not to care about Zhao Ruxi, smashed her teacup in anger. She then sent someone to deliver a message to Noble Consort Cen, hoping that Noble Consort Cen would summon Zhao Ruxi to the palace and reprimand her.
Noble Consort Cen had already discerned Xiao Lingyan's high regard for Zhao Ruxi from the previous incident involving bait; she could also see that her youngest son had become slightly distant from her since then. He no longer sent her anything nice, nor did he visit her every few days to inquire about her well-being. If there was nothing else, he rarely stepped into her palace, and he even rarely returned to the imperial palace.
This was him making his stance clear to her: he was disheartened that she and the Cen Family only cared about Xiao Lingpu. Since they were unwilling to protect him, he would no longer side with them.
This somewhat childish behavior made Noble Consort Cen both angry and amused, and at the same time, heartbroken.
She and the Cen Family could not support two princes at the same time, as this would divide their strength and cause internal strife. They had to choose one, and they could only choose Xiao Lingpu and support him wholeheartedly in his struggle for the throne.
As for Xiao Lingyan, they don't care as long as his life isn't in danger. In the Cen Family's view, sometimes Xiao Lingpu needs to make sacrifices, even his life.
Given this, she felt that if she summoned Zhao Ruxi to the palace to reprimand her at this time, it would only push Xiao Lingyan and Zhao Ruxi further apart.
Parents who cannot be wholeheartedly good to their children should not expect their children to reciprocate wholeheartedly. Just like her relationship with the Cen Family, when the Cen Family sent her to the palace against her will, she lost all affection for her parents and the Cen Family.
The reason they seem to have a good relationship and are closely connected now is simply because they all share a common goal: to help Xiao Lingpu rise to power.
Therefore, after receiving the message from Cen Peixuan sent to the palace, she sent some tonics to Cen Peixuan, telling her to rest and take care of her pregnancy and not to worry too much. She did nothing else, not even sending someone to reprimand Zhao Ruxi, let alone calling her into the palace to scold her.
Noble Consort Cen's attitude infuriated Cen Peixuan once again.
Xiao Lingpu, witnessing everything that had happened, seemed lost in thought.
He understood Cen Peixuan's personality very well and knew why she didn't like Zhao Ruxi.
For some women who rely on their family background and consider themselves superior, women like Zhao Ruxi, who achieve a status comparable to men and even have access to the imperial court through public appearances and relentless hard work, are both envied and looked down upon. They believe that only those of low birth work so hard, while those of them who are born at the top only need to enjoy a life of elegance and happiness.
They all possessed a sense of superiority, so when they saw Zhao Ruxi rise to the same level as them, or even higher, through her own efforts, their resentment and jealousy were particularly intense. For example, Princess Xiangyang, Princess Pingyang, and even his wife, Cen Peixuan. Their foolish actions weren't due to stupidity, but rather to jealousy.
The reason he allowed his wife to test Zhao Ruxi in this way was to further confirm Xiao Lingyan's attitude.
Before Zhao Ruxi arrived, she wrote to Xiao Lingyan for instructions, and afterwards she wrote to Xiao Lingyan again to report. However, Xiao Lingyan did not blame her at all, and even sent her things to comfort her. He did not come to explain or apologize to his brother, which shows that his brother had grievances against him and had completely broken off relations with him.
The plan to use Zhao Ruxi as bait was a joint decision made by the Cen Family and him. Xiao Lingyan's reaction was both expected and unexpected.
It was expected because he knew his younger brother well and knew he was a loyal and affectionate person. He was bound to be Gao Xing that his mother, brother, and the Cen Family treated the girl he liked this way.
But this Gao Xing had reached the point where he wanted to break ties with him, which was completely unexpected by Xiao Lingpu.
Is their brotherhood of over a decade really less valuable than a woman?
Indeed, the sayings "lust blinds the mind," "values beauty over friendship," and "lust is a knife hanging over one's head" are not just empty words. It seems his younger brother has fallen for Zhao Ruxi.
Xiao Lingpu sighed and said to someone, "Go tell Prince of Qi that I'd like to invite him for drinks. See when is convenient for him. Either my residence or his is fine."
He orchestrated this whole thing not only to test Xiao Lingyan, but also to find an opportunity to have a heart-to-heart talk with Xiao Lingyan, so as to eliminate the estrangement between them and get Xiao Lingyan to continue to support him as before.
These princes, if they wanted to talk to someone, would naturally not go to a restaurant. That place was crowded and noisy, and whatever they talked about could easily be overheard.
Upon hearing the message, Xiao Lingyan invited Xiao Lingpu to the Prince of Qi's Residence for dinner that very evening.
"Young man, I'm sorry. This drink is on behalf of your sister-in-law to apologize to your wife." Xiao Lingpu raised his glass, his attitude very sincere.
"You know what kind of person your sister-in-law is. She's not a bad person, just a bit self-righteous and doesn't know how to speak properly. Sometimes she means well, but what she says is unpleasant. You and your sister-in-law shouldn't take her to heart."
Xiao Lingyan raised his cup and clinked it against Xiao Lingpu's, then downed the wine in one gulp. "I also want to apologize to my brother and sister-in-law on behalf of Zhiwei. Zhiwei has a strong personality, and her approach to things is not always gentle. She wholeheartedly wanted to do something for the people of the Great Jin, and that's why she gave up her comfortable life in the capital and volunteered to go down to the lower realms."
He chuckled slightly, "But in my sister-in-law's mouth, this is considered showing one's face in public and being unchaste. Anyone would find such words offensive. Zhiwei leaving after a disagreement wasn't necessarily a rude act, but rather a matter of not being able to see each other properly. I think it's best if they see each other less in the future. Especially since my sister-in-law is pregnant now, if Zhiwei her and causes her any harm, wouldn't that be our fault?"