Not the Right Time

Early in the morning, Lianrong brought in the contraceptive soup, unable to help but wonder, "Mistress, why do you still want to drink the contraceptive soup? Do you not wish to bear a child for His Highness?"

"It is not that I do not want to, but rather that the time is not yet right," Jinxin replied calmly.

Previously, she was closely watched by Jiang Yushu, making it impossible to conceive. Now, she was taking medicine to heal her injuries, so it was also inconvenient to become pregnant.

Hearing this, Lianrong finally understood.

Previously, when Jinxin kept drinking the contraceptive soup, Lianrong had thought it was because the Princess Consort forbade her mistress from conceiving. But now that the Princess Consort had no way to control her mistress, she had assumed her mistress simply did not want to bear the Prince's child.

Jinxin naturally wanted to. However, seeing Jiang Yushu pregnant but constantly suffering from discomfort—likely due to an unstable pregnancy caused by her previous reckless consumption of tonic herbs—Jinxin knew she had to nurture her own body to perfect health before making any plans.

After she was elevated to Secondary Consort, the Palace Affairs Bureau dispatched another maid to serve her, named Qiulian.

Qiulian took the soup bowl, cast a discreet glance at the two of them, and quietly withdrew without a word.

After resting for a few days, the injury on Jinxin's foot had fully healed, and Yalan Pavilion had been cleaned. Word came from Tiluan Courtyard, instructing her to move over there today.

After all, the inner court was still ruled by the Princess Consort.

Today was the Empress's birthday banquet. Prince Rui escorted the Princess Consort and Side Consort Cao into the palace.

Tonight, the Prince would surely rest at Tiluan Courtyard.

All her belongings were moved into Yalan Pavilion. It was clear that Yalan Pavilion was much more spacious than Meixiang Residence. The Palace Affairs Bureau had fully furnished it, using only the finest items for her.

Just as she finished moving in, Side Consort Liu arrived with two Secondary Consorts, the concubines, and the bedchamber maids to offer their congratulations.

Secondary Consort Chen's expression was strained, but she said nothing. Throughout the visit, she appeared reluctant, having only come because of Side Consort Liu's command.

Jinxin had only been in the estate for a month, yet she already stood on equal footing with them. How could they not be envious? If only they possessed such beauty.

Jinxin smiled and thanked everyone, accepting all their well-wishes while also sensing their attempts to curry favor. She did not reject them; if she could maintain friendly relations with everyone, she had no desire to make enemies.

Once the others had departed, only Side Consort Liu remained.

"Now, little sister can be considered to have survived the hardships to see the sweet rewards. His Highness dotes on you so. If you give birth to a son or daughter, I fear even I will have to make way for you," Side Consort Liu said with a self-deprecating smile.

In this Prince's Estate, in terms of background, even those Secondary Consorts had higher birth than her. It was only because the Liu family had business dealings with the Prince that she had secured the high position of Side Consort.

Judging by the Prince's attitude toward Jinxin—giving the cold shoulder to Side Consort Cao, warning the Princess Consort, and showering Jinxin with such favor—if Jinxin truly became pregnant, the Prince might very well grant her the status of Side Consort.

"Sister Liu thinks too highly of me. No matter how much favor I receive, my honor is only fitting for the rank of Secondary Consort. I have nothing, but sister's position in His Highness's heart is perhaps even more important than the Princess Consort's. You must know this very well," Jinxin said with a serious look, smiling.