Settling In

The nanny representing Noble Consort Cen was coming, and there were no other servants in the room, so Zhao Ruxi naturally couldn't leave Xiao Lingyan behind to go next door for hot pot—it would take time to prepare the hot pot and move it next door.

When Auntie Yu came in, she saw Zhao Ruxi sitting gently on the edge of the bed, considerately covering Xiao Lingyan with a thin blanket.

Although it is winter, the bedroom of Prince of Qi and Consort of the Prince of Qi in the Prince Qi's Prince of Qi's Residence naturally has underfloor heating. This room is more than just warm like spring; under the loving care of Noble Consort Cen, one only needs to wear a single layer of clothing inside.

Xiao Lingyan felt perfectly comfortable lying there in his padded jacket; he didn't need a thin blanket. If it weren't for Auntie Yu's sake, he would definitely have reprimanded Zhao Ruxi again.

Auntie Yu didn't think so.

In a situation where "a mother feels cold," Auntie Yu, who represented Noble Consort Cen and had watched Xiao Lingyan grow up, felt that Zhao Ruxi was a qualified virtuous wife and loving mother, and was very gratified.

"Your Highness, are you alright?" she asked, bowing as she stepped forward.

After all that commotion today, Noble Consort Cen was genuinely worried that her son's health couldn't handle it, and even more worried that he might hurt himself by trying to force himself to consummate the marriage with Zhao Ruxi.

That's why Auntie Yu was sent here to oversee things.

"Alright," Xiao Lingyan, "Thank you for your consideration, Mother and Auntie Yu."

"As long as His Highness is well, Her Majesty is willing to do anything. There is no one in the world who worries about their child more than a mother," said Auntie Yu.

Zhao Ruxi tilted her head.

On her wedding night, her mother-in-law sent someone to her son to tell him about her mother's love and greatness. She felt a little strange about it.

Is this the legendary power struggle between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, about to begin?

Xiao Lingyan's emotional intelligence is passable.

He smiled and said, "Yes, I know how good my mother is to me. My health is like this now, and she has worried a lot about me recently. Now that I'm married, with Zhiwei taking care of me, my mother can finally relax a little. Otherwise, it would be unfilial of me to make her work so hard."

These words made Auntie Yu, who represented Noble Consort Cen, and Zhao Ruxi feel comfortable.

"I imagine Mother has been concerned about my situation. It's getting late, and the palace will be locked up soon. Aunt, why don't you head back first? Mother can't do without you. If anything happens in the future, just have a maid or eunuch run errands for her. You don't need to come here personally. It's tiring for you, and it's also inconvenient for Mother."

He paused, then added, "I will send someone to tell my mother about this."

Noble Consort Cen was in charge of palace affairs, which were usually very complicated. She had only a limited number of capable and trustworthy palace maids and eunuchs by her side, Auntie Yu also had a lot of things to manage, so she really didn't have time to run to Prince of Qi's Residence every day.

She was naturally unwilling to relinquish her power and come to Noble Consort Cen Prince of Qi's Residence's residence to oversee things, keeping an eye on Xiao Lingyan and Zhao Ruxi for Consort Cen. Besides, Xiao Lingyan's words clearly indicated that he didn't want her to stay there; if she insisted on staying, wouldn't she just be disliked?

Therefore, upon hearing Xiao Lingyan's words, she did not object and smiled, saying, "Your Highness is truly a filial child, always thinking of the Imperial Concubine."

She looked up at Zhao Ruxi and said, "Of course, Your Highness the Princess is the same. From now on, we will trouble Your Highness to take care of His Highness."

"Of course, Auntie Yu, you don't need to be so polite," Zhao Ruxi replied with a smile.

Since they are not leaving any behind, they must speak out what Noble Consort Cen entrusted to them.

After hesitating for a while, Auntie Yu finally asked Zhao Ruxi tactfully, "Does the Princess also live in this room?"

Xiao Lingyan frowned upon hearing this.

Zhao Ruxi is his wife. Now that they're married, where will Zhao Ruxi live if she doesn't live here?

Zhao Ruxi understood the unspoken meaning behind Auntie Yu's words.

However, Auntie Yu cannot give the answer she needs. If she does, it would mean she dislikes Xiao Lingyan and is unwilling to share a room with Xiao Lingyan. In the future, when Noble Consort Cen is dissatisfied with her, she will use this to criticize her, and perhaps even to force her to agree to Xiao Lingyan taking a concubine.

She feigned confusion and asked, "Auntie, what do you mean? I don't understand."

The question just now wasn't something Noble Consort Cen intentionally had Auntie Yu ask; it was simply that Auntie Yu, an old palace maid who had never married, didn't know how to bring it up.

Seeing Xiao Lingyan's subtle displeasure and Zhao Ruxi's puzzled expression, she knew that Xiao Lingyan had misunderstood.

She quickly and directly stated, "When I came, Her Highness subtly expressed some concerns. His Highness is not yet fully recovered and it is not advisable to consummate the marriage, which is why I asked that question just now. If His Highness and the Princess Consort have misunderstood, it is my fault; I was not good at speaking and did not explain myself clearly."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ruxi quickly lowered her head, feigning shyness.

Xiao Lingyan's expression softened slightly.

As a man, he was quite frank with Auntie Yu, who was old enough to be his mother. "Tell Mother not to worry, I am currently unable to have sexual relations."

He was afraid that if he didn't make things clear, Noble Consort Cen would blame Zhao Ruxi for not being pregnant.

Zhao Ruxi lowered her head even further.

"Zhiwei, go and choose a courtyard in a little while, have the maids decorate it, and you can stay there tonight. Just don't go too far from me," Xiao Lingyan added.

"Your Highness..." Zhao Ruxi raised her head and looked at Xiao Lingyan with a puzzled expression.

"Whether it's eating, taking medicine, using the toilet, or even turning over in bed, I need to be served. I can't be left alone in this room. The maids aren't strong enough to do these things, and the eunuchs aren't very capable either, so the guards often have to do it for me. Besides, the Imperial Medical Bureau sends two physicians to watch over me day and night. It's inconvenient for you to stay in this courtyard. So you should choose another courtyard to live in."

After he said that, Auntie Yu also felt uncomfortable.

Zhao Ruxi is a princess, the woman of the Prince of Qi. How can she share a room with those men? Even if they lived in the same courtyard, it would be very inconvenient, and it would ruin her reputation.

She began to persuade Zhao Ruxi on Xiao Lingyan's behalf, "His Highness is right. Your Highness, you should choose another courtyard to live in."

"But then I won't be able to serve Your Highness at your side anymore," Zhao Ruxi said with a troubled expression.

"You just need to come to my side every day, just like you would in the palace, and talk to me," Xiao Lingyan said.

Zhao Ruxi looked at Auntie Yu and asked, "What about Her Majesty...?"

Xiao Lingyan then said to Auntie Yu, "If Her Highness asks, just say it was my idea, that I insisted on doing it this way. Men are the ones coming and going from here; I can't have the Princess Consort living here, can I? It's not like it's just for a day or two."

"Yes, this servant will report His Highness's intentions to Her Highness."

Auntie Yu spoke, she said to Zhao Ruxi, "Her Majesty has always yielded to His Highness's wishes. Since His Highness insists, Your Highness, please agree."

Zhao Ruxi nodded, then hesitated before saying, "Okay."

After explaining the matter clearly, Auntie Yu left.