Professional Ethics of a Concubine

"Princess, tonight is New Year's Eve, why are you pushing the prince away? I think the prince will stay with you for the sake of etiquette and face."

Zhang Jingyi had just returned to her own courtyard, and was surrounded by her people, when Nanny Zhou spoke softly.

"Mammy, please don't say such things again in the future." Zhang Jingyi frowned slightly and said in a dignified manner.

"This princess's reputation does not depend on whether the prince stays overnight or not. This princess just wants the prince to be truly happy. Only when the prince is happy can this princess have a good life."

"But..." Nanny Zhou also felt sorry for her. Now the prince almost only favored Concubine Ye, and the princess had to stay alone in the empty room.

"Mammy, you are my wet nurse and have always been loyal to me. I am willing to trust you, rely on you, and give you face.

But if you still can't recognize the situation and grow up, I will let Madam go home to live in old age. I will arrange the house, money, and your son's job, so you don't have to worry about these."

Zhang Jingyi interrupted her persuasion. Although she slowed down her tone and manner of speaking, as if she had returned to the previous relationship between master and servant, her words made Nanny Zhou kneel down suddenly.

"Princess, I was wrong! Please give me another chance! I still want to stay with you and continue to serve you!" Nanny Zhou pleaded with red eyes.

"Mammy, I can give you a chance to learn from Mammy Li and the others. They are all retired maids in the palace. They have good eyesight and skills, and will benefit you a lot."

Zhang Jingyi said calmly,

"As Qingzhi said, if you don't make progress, you are regressing. Mammy, it will not be easy for me to hold on to that position in the future, so I will not allow myself to have weaknesses, nor will I allow those around me to hold me back!"

"I obey your orders." After bowing, Nanny Zhou raised her head and looked at her master's straight back. She felt that her master had really been reborn.

-

Prince Su's Mansion.

Prince Su hurried back to his residence from the palace. As soon as he entered the door, he was stopped by Eunuch Zhang.

"Your Highness, tonight is New Year's Eve. The prince said he wants to see the princess. I beg your permission."

Prince Su frowned upon hearing this, and thought to himself that he shouldn't have kept Wang to celebrate the New Year!

He was actually very dissatisfied that he had only imprisoned her but did not destroy her.

But the emperor's brother said that this was the most appropriate way, leaving room for subsequent deliberation and negotiation. He also understood the balance of power, so he had to compromise.

The Wang family, the big clan behind the Wang family, also has considerable power in the court. They also have several imperial censors. If they just get powerful, they can really annoy you to death.

He had never had any feelings for Wang as a couple. Considering what she had done, he only spared her life for the sake of the prince's face.

But Prince Su was very disappointed with the Crown Prince.

Before, he was stationed at the border all year round and was not in the capital. Every time he returned to Kyoto, he was only there for a short time, so he did not give much instruction to the prince.

Every time he came back, the prince behaved decently. I wouldn’t say he was outstanding, but he was okay.

But when he returned to the capital and lived in the palace, he discovered that the prince had been spoiled by Wang's family.

He is lazy, addicted to pleasure, bullies the weak and fears the strong, and has no opinion of his own.

He didn't even want to admit that this was his child.

Is it because I didn't grow up next to him that my personality is completely different from his?

Although he did not expect his son to follow in his father's footsteps and continue to fight on the battlefield and guard the gate of Zhao State, he cannot be so spoiled and incompetent!

Shortly after returning to Beijing, he threw the prince into the military camp for training, hoping to change his temperament.

However, the prince could not endure any hardship. He relied on his status to bully the soldiers under his command, and was perfunctory in daily training.

Prince Su saw it all, and tried to reason with the prince and beat him with a stick, but not only did he fail to win the prince back, he also made the prince resent him.

Wang made trouble for him every day because of this, crying and asking him to release the prince from the military camp, forcing him to compromise.

It was not until the princess was placed under house arrest and Nian Qiu became pregnant that the prince felt the real threat and behaved himself.

In order to appease the prince and prove to him that he had no intention of deposing him, he took the prince with him and taught him personally, and also replaced the people around the prince with his loyal subordinates.

It would be convenient for him to supervise and teach the Crown Prince when he is not around, so that he would not have much contact with people around the Princess.

The prince had indeed been well behaved for two months, which made him feel relieved. He thought that the prince had indeed improved and was trying to improve himself, but he didn't expect that the prince had something big to hide.

He attacked Mu Nianqiu and wanted to get rid of the baby in Nianqiu's belly.

Of course not!

But he was so angry at the prince that he wanted to die. If this child was not his, he would definitely kill him.

He did not publicize this matter, but was determined to replace all the people around the prince with assassins who would only obey his orders and train the prince to death every day.

There is only one principle: as long as the person is not dead, practice until he dies.

In just one month, the prince seemed to him much more human than before.

Today is New Year's Eve, and he gave the prince a day off to rest for a night.

At this moment, Prince Su heard the Crown Prince's request to see Wang, so he said to Eunuch Zhang,

"Okay, let him go and see them. Send someone to keep an eye on them and write down everything they say. Let the prince leave after an hour."

Eunuch Zhang took the order and left.

Prince Su exhaled slowly and walked towards Tingyu Pavilion, feeling a little annoyed.

When he arrived in the yard, Prince Su noticed Mu Nianqiu standing in front of the window at first sight. She stood there quietly, looking at him with a smile.

When Prince Su saw her, his troubled and anxious heart calmed down. He paused, then quickened his pace to the window and asked her with a smile,

"Why are you standing here? Are you cold? How long have you been standing here? Are you tired?"

"I just came to the window and saw the prince." Mu Nianqiu stretched out his hand and touched his cold cheek. "What is the prince unhappy about?"

Prince Su stretched out his hand and wrapped it around hers, then asked her with a smile, "How do you know I'm in a bad mood?"

"I can see that." Mu Nianqiu said seriously, "When the prince is in a good mood, he is not like this."

"Because of the prince's matter, I am indeed a little upset. But I feel much better now." Prince Su smiled again.

"I've asked someone to prepare fireworks. Do you want to come out and watch them with me?"

"Yes." Mu Nianqiu didn't ask any more questions, but just responded, "Your Majesty, please wait a moment. I will change my clothes."

"No rush, take your time." Prince Su did not enter the house. He ordered people to take out the fireworks and decorate the warm pavilion in the yard.

Mu Nianqiu packed up, put on her cloak, and came to the yard. Prince Su took her hand and helped her walk to the warm pavilion.

"Why did Your Majesty come back from the palace banquet so early?" Mu Nianqiu asked him.

"After Qingzhi and the others left, I didn't stay for long. If I hadn't thought about my brother's absence and wanted to support Qingzhi and the others and put pressure on the Queen and the Crown Prince, I wouldn't have wanted to go to the palace banquet."

Prince Su spoke, not to seek credit, but to state the facts.

Now he no longer needs to rely on those little tricks to attract her attention and win her favor.

"Thank you for your hard work, Your Highness." Mu Nianqiu looked at him and expressed his gratitude sincerely.

"Why should I thank you? This is mutual. In the future, when I am old, you and our children will still have to rely on Prince Jing and Qingzhi."

Prince Su said with a smile.

"If they can grow up to be as good and powerful as their father, they won't have to rely on others. A good iron must be strong itself. I don't want them to be greedy for pleasure and want to rely on others to live when they grow up."

Mu Nianqiu stopped and looked at Prince Su and said seriously.

Prince Su looked at her, sighed, and held her in his arms.

People just think that his love for Mu Nianqiu is too outrageous, but she is really worth it.

He had taken a fancy to her at first because he had a secret and he needed her.

Now, he needs her more and can't live without her.