Traveling through the Poisonous Concubine

Chapter 208 The Prime Minister Takes a Concubine

Mingchun looked at Yun Ruyan who looked unhappy, and said carefully: "Princess, tomorrow is New Year's Eve. According to palace rules, the emperor will have a palace banquet tomorrow. The prince will definitely take you to participate. After all, you are the principal concubine."

Hearing Mingchun's words, Yun Ruyan felt helpless and bitter. She thought of the prince who had not set foot in Ruyi Garden for half a month, and couldn't help feeling a little aggrieved.

She asked softly, "Mingchun, the prince hasn't stepped into our Ruyi Garden for half a month. Has he completely given up on me? Have you seen the prince recently?"

Mingchun heard the sorrow in Yun Ruyan's tone. She knew that Yun Ruyan still had expectations for the prince, but she also understood her own thoughts.

Mingchun hesitated for a moment, but decided to speak her mind: "Princess, I have something to say, but I don't know whether I should say it or not. I'm afraid you'll be angry, so I dare not say it."

Yun Ruyan frowned. She could sense that Mingchun seemed to have something to hide. She sighed softly and said, "You can tell me. I won't blame you."

Mingchun gritted her teeth and mustered up the courage to say, "Princess, since the second prince came last time, the prince has never come to our courtyard again. I think if you want to make the prince change his mind, I'm afraid you have to rely on yourself."

Yun Ruyan's face darkened. She knew what Mingchun meant. She thought to herself and felt that what Mingchun said made sense.

If I can humble myself, maybe I can win the prince's heart again.

Mingchun thought of Mingliu, the woman who had served the prince with her, but now had become a concubine, enjoying wealth and splendor. This made her jealous and at the same time felt pressured.

Seeing Yun Ruyan was silent, Mingchun thought she was thinking about how to get close to the Second Prince, so he continued, "Princess, as long as the prince is willing to come to Ruyi Garden, with your intelligence and talent, it won't be difficult to keep the prince's heart."

Mingchun was secretly complaining, "Although Mingliu is only a concubine now, her status is much higher than ours. If the prince gets a higher status in the future, won't she also be able to become a concubine and enjoy endless wealth and glory?"

Yun Ruyan took a deep breath and said, "Do you have any good ideas? Tell me, as long as the prince can come to our courtyard, it will be your credit."

Mingchun then said: "Princess, the prince attaches great importance to offspring nowadays. If you are pregnant, the prince will definitely dote on you. You see, a concubine is honored by her son. Besides, you are the principal wife, and the child you give birth to is legitimate."

When Yun Ruyan thought of Yun Jinxi's face and arrogant look, she instantly got angry. She took a deep breath and said calmly:

"Now I am under house arrest, unable to go out, let alone see the prince. What should I do?"

Mingchun knew that Yun Ruyan had some feelings for him. When she served Yun Ruyan, she could tell that the princess was most likely in love with the second prince.

Ever since Yun Ruyan was confined to her room, she has been having few sexual desires all day long and has not lost weight. Her eyes are misty. The already beautiful Yun Ruyan is now even more charming.

"Tomorrow, Princess, you will definitely attend the palace banquet. Why don't you spend some time to dress up and adjust your appearance? Perhaps the prince will change his mind after seeing the look."

Yun Ruyan nodded, and then ordered Mingchun to go out and find Liu to seek her help.

At this time, Liu was furious because today was the day when the Prime Minister would carry Zhiyu back.

Liu looked at herself in the bronze mirror. Although she was still beautiful, the fine wrinkles at the corners of her eyes could not be covered up by makeup.

"Madam, Mingchun, who is with the eldest lady, wants to see you. I'm afraid the eldest lady has something to ask you. Do you want to see her?" The personal nanny walked in and said to Liu.

When Liu heard that it was someone around Yun Ruyan, she immediately perked up and said to the nanny beside her, "Mammy, go and bring the person in, and then guard the door." She knew in her heart that something must have happened for this person to come to see her.

After a while, Mingchun was brought into Liu's room. She bowed and said, "Madam, this is a letter from the princess." Then, Mingchun took out a letter from her bosom and handed it to Liu.

Liu couldn't wait to take the letter and read it carefully. However, as time went by, her face became more and more serious. After reading the letter, she threw it directly into the brazier and watched the letter quickly turn into ashes.

"Mingchun, wait a moment. I have something for you to bring to the princess." After saying that, Liu turned and walked into the bedroom.

After entering the bedroom, Liu carefully opened the secret compartment of the dressing table, took out a bunch of incense and wrapped it carefully. When she returned to the front hall again, she handed the incense and a letter to Mingchun and instructed:

"Mingchun, you must hand this letter and this incense to the princess personally. Remember not to let anyone else do it. After you go back, you must take good care of the princess." Then, Liu generously gave Mingchun twenty taels of silver.

It turned out that the incense was the Warm Love Incense. Liu had relied on it to often confuse the Prime Minister. Now, she planned to use this incense to help Yun Ruyan.

Mingchun looked at the incense in his hand and knew what it was used for without having to guess, so he secretly stole two sticks and hid them. He then took Liu's reward and happily strolled around the street.

At about the same time, Mingchun returned to Ruyi Garden and handed the things to Yun Ruyan.

Yun Ruyan looked at Liu's letter, then dismissed the servants including Mingchun, and hid the incense herself. She knew that if it was discovered, the consequences would be disastrous. She could also see Mingchun's ambition and had to be on guard, but she had no one to use at the moment.

Yun Ruyan made up her mind and thought to herself, "It seems that I must cultivate my own confidants after the new year. I'm afraid that this matter will inevitably trouble my father. Dad is very ambitious and he will definitely make plans for me."

The Prime Minister's Mansion was bustling with activity. The Prime Minister had married a concubine, who was a famous courtesan in Kyoto named Zhizu.

Yun Yuxi had arranged everything long ago, and even used her medical skills to repair Zhiyu's hymen. Prime Minister Ren would never have thought that his concubine was no longer a virgin.

Liu's eyes turned red with hatred, but she had to take care of the affairs of the prime minister's concubines, and she also had to pretend to be magnanimous and be a decent mistress.

Zhiyu was even more beautiful and charming. At the dinner table, she even toasted Liu. Aunt Lan looked at the young and beautiful Zhiyu and felt as if she saw herself in the past.

She used to be so young, beautiful and charming, and she followed the prime minister wholeheartedly and gave birth to children for him. But when she fell ill, this heartless man didn't even visit her.

Aunt Lan watched everything as quietly as an orchid, with an ambiguous smile on her lips. She then bowed, saluted, and returned to her Jinglan Garden.