Phi-Fic Chapter 293 The Concubine Was Wrong
Chapter 293 The Concubine Was Wrong
As the group reached the entrance, they ran into Gu Hanjiao, who was heavily pregnant, getting off the carriage and heading this way.
Gu Hanjiao was furious when she saw Gu Qingwan dressed in gorgeous clothes and looking so imposing. She was clearly a country bumpkin, so why was she allowed to stand here on equal footing with her and why was she dressed so well?
"Hmph, sister, are you forgetful? You're no longer a daughter of the Gu family, so why are you still running back to them? Oh, I see, sister, are you regretting it? You're probably thinking that you're not doing well in the Prince's mansion without a maternal family, and you'll be looked down upon. So you want to acknowledge your ancestors and return to the family?"
Gu Qingwan scoffed, a sound that felt like a slap across Gu Hanjiao's face, leaving Gu Hanjiao speechless.
Consort Gu.
This sound made the hairs on Gu Hanjiao's neck stand on end. You should know that when others call her Consort Gu, it's a compliment, after all, she is carrying the Emperor's first grandson.
But Gu Qingwan's way of calling him that was clearly sarcastic.
"It seems we need to have the Imperial Concubine in the palace set some rules for you. The saying goes, 'A nun follows her husband.' I wonder if the Third Prince will think you've disgraced him if he finds out?"
Gu Hanjiao was startled. Of course, she needed to pay attention when the Third Prince was mentioned.
Now that she is pregnant with the eldest grandson of the emperor, the third prince is paying extra attention to her pregnancy, providing her with the best food and drink. Even the princess does not dare to set rules for her, let alone Consort Yu.
However, if word got out that she had caused the Third Prince to lose face because of her bad behavior, then the Third Prince would be unhappy. If Consort Yu found out, it would give Consort Yu an even greater opportunity to find ways to torment her.
Thinking of this, Gu Hanjiao reluctantly called out, "Please don't be offended, Imperial Aunt. I forgot your status and subconsciously thought we were still sisters..."
“Consort Gu is wrong again. Logically speaking, only the Crown Prince’s wife is qualified to call our Princess Consort ‘Royal Aunt’,” Baoqin, who was standing to the side, suddenly said.
Gu Hanjiao's face immediately turned red, not because she felt shy, but because she was embarrassed by Baoqin's sarcasm.
Yes, the royal family has a strict hierarchy, and the Princess Consort of Chu's status is even more noble. If one wants to establish a kinship with her, it would require the Princess Consort's own consent. Otherwise, the only people who can establish a kinship with the Princess Consort are legitimate princes, grandsons of the emperor, and the principal wife.
Someone like Gu Hanjiao, to put it nicely, is a concubine, but in reality, she is still a concubine. Even the Noble Consorts in the palace dare not make any improper connections with the Princess of Chu, let alone her.
Gu Hanjiao's face flushed red and then turned pale. She protected her stomach and took a deep breath.
"I pay my respects to the Princess Consort of Chu. I was rude and I hope that Your Highness will be magnanimous and forgive me this time."
Gu Qingwan raised an eyebrow. Gu Hanjiao had learned her lesson, which showed that she wasn't living so carefree in the Third Prince's residence.
"Hmm." Gu Qingwan didn't want to say more to her. She figured that she must have come back for the sake of Old Madam Gu. With Gu Ziming not at home, it was a good opportunity.
Just as she was about to get into the carriage, Gu Hanqing stepped down from it. He immediately saw the large carriage of the Chu Prince's residence and knew that his elder sister had returned.
Before the carriage had even come to a complete stop, he quickly jumped out of it.
Aunt Li, who had just rushed out from inside, happened to see this scene and gasped in fright.
"Eldest sister is back!"
Seeing Gu Hanqing, Gu Qingwan rarely smiled. "Yes, Qing'er, did you just come back from the academy?"
"Replying to elder sister, it is like this: today and tomorrow are the academy's days off, and since Father is not home, I came back to visit."
Gu Qingwan nodded and said, "You're so thoughtful. Baoqin, go to the car and get out the set of writing materials I prepared for Young Master Qing."
"Elder sister, I have enough things, there's really no need for you to spend any more money." Gu Hanqing scratched the back of his head embarrassedly. He knew that Gu Qingwan always gave him good things, otherwise, with the Gu family's wealth, the things he brought out would only make people laugh at him.
Gu Qingwan patted the boy's shoulder and said, "As long as you study hard and become successful, how could these things your elder sister gave you be a waste of money?"
"Don't worry, elder sister, Qing'er will definitely study hard!"
Gu Qingwan knew Gu Hanqing's capabilities and didn't say much, leaving everything to time. However, she suddenly remembered the scholar she had met in the alley that day, and after thinking about it, she decided to give Gu Hanqing a reminder.
"Qing'er, if you don't have anything to do these next two days, go for a stroll on the main street. I remember there's a painting stall at the entrance of that alley in Daonanli. The man there is quite eloquent."
Gu Hanqing was a smart person and immediately realized that his elder sister was introducing him to someone. If someone wasn't outstanding, they wouldn't have caught his sister's eye.
"Don't worry, elder sister, I'll go and take a look tomorrow."
Only after Gu Qingwan's carriage turned and left at the end of the long street did Aunt Li dare to run out, grab Gu Hanqing's hand, and look her over from left to right. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that everything was alright.
"Why couldn't you be more careful? The carriage was so high. You jumped down before it had come to a complete stop. What if you had fallen?"
Before Gu Hanqing could say anything, Gu Hanjiao spoke up sarcastically from the side.
"What? The Princess Consort of Chu is of such high status that you all fawn over her, while our Prince's residence is invisible and unwelcome?"
Aunt Li and Gu Hanqing then realized that Consort Gu, who was heavily pregnant, was still standing at the door.
"Your Highness, what are you saying? This is your home, and your family is always welcome. This humble servant..."
"Hmph. What a mess! When Father comes back, I'll have to urge him to marry a proper wife as soon as possible. How can just any Tom, Dick, or Harry be allowed to come to the main gate to greet us? It's shameful! Let's go! Let's go back to the manor!"
Gu Hanjiao looked down on concubines like Aunt Li. Although her mother was promoted from a concubine, no matter what, her mother was still the principal wife. How could someone like Aunt Li or Aunt Rou be compared to her?
Aunt Li was even angrier as she watched Gu Hanjiao's departing figure.
Gu Qingwan was one thing, after all, the Princess Consort of Chu was of noble status at that time, and her own son still needed the support of the Prince of Chu.
But what is Gu Hanjiao anyway? We don't even know if she's the master's bloodline. He only accepted her because he couldn't bear to give up the Third Prince. As for that Wang Shi, who was unfaithful, we don't even know where she disposed of the body. What is she so smug about?
Thinking of this, Aunt Li couldn't help but spit out a curse.
Gu Hanqing frowned, but because he was a man, he didn't say anything.
Once she could no longer see her, Gu Hanqing helped her walk, saying, "Auntie, what brings elder sister here..."
"There's nothing important at all. I just came to see Aunt Rou after she gave birth. Oh, and the Princess Consort asked about your studies. You'd better do well and don't let her down."
Gu Hanqing smiled gently, "Of course. Even if my aunt hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have let my elder sister down."
Aunt Li didn't think anything of it, but the little maid Xiao Kui next to her heard it all.
She was Aunt Li's personal maid, and she had been by Aunt Li's side through thick and thin all these years. Even during those difficult times, she never betrayed Aunt Li.
Now that Aunt Li's status has risen, she has also gradually gained a position. Naturally, she hopes that Aunt Li can be like Madam Wang back then, so that she can be like Madam Xue back then.
Sure enough, when they returned to the courtyard and only the two of them, Xiao Kui massaged Aunt Li's head while hesitating to speak.
"Xiao Kui, just say what you want to say. Why are you being so hesitant today?" Aunt Li naturally noticed that something was wrong with Xiao Kui.
"It's my fault. I do have something to say to you, Aunt, but I'm worried that if I say it..."