The Self-cultivation of a Salted Fish Concubine

Concubine Jing Shu spoke frankly of her own selfish motives, adding, "I do have selfish motives, but ultimately it's for the good of the Seventh Prince."

"What good will it do the Seventh Prince and Concubine Wu to get so deeply entangled?"

"Concubine Wu knew she would never see the Seventh Prince, yet she went out to act again and again, making herself look like a child missing her mother instead of a loving mother."

"But if she really cares about the child, shouldn't she be happy that the child is doing well?!"

"She's jumping up and down like this, just to let the world know that she's been wronged, that she's the Seventh Prince's biological mother, and then to accuse me of forcibly taking someone else's son?!"

Concubine Jing Shu had long seen through Lady Wu's subtle thoughts, so she was very angry and contemptuous: "I didn't forbid her from seeing the Seventh Prince from the beginning. She should also know that I treat the Seventh Prince with full devotion."

"To be frank, when it comes to the sincerity towards the Seventh Prince, even his biological mother may not be able to compare to me."

"It's just that she's too ungrateful and is trying to use her status as the Seventh Prince's biological mother to influence him and those around him. That's why I can't tolerate her."

Concubine Jing Shu cursed, as if she had let out the anger that had been pent up in her heart for a long time.

Concubine Wu felt that she had suffered a great injustice, and Concubine Jing Shu felt the same way.

But because of her identity, she had no chance to speak out and could only swallow it herself.

Naturally, she treated the Seventh Prince without any ill-treatment and never targeted Concubine Wu.

But Lady Wu was never satisfied and kept on putting on one drama after another, which brought her a lot of infamy.

This was not the first time that Concubine Wu braved the wind and snow to go to Yongning Palace.

Outsiders who didn't know the real situation thought she was mean and cold-hearted, and was deliberately making trouble for Concubine Wu.

After Xie Run listened to Concubine Jing Shu's sobbing, he slowly said, "I just arrived at Xiangyun Pavilion and can't even have a cup of hot tea."

"Such a beautiful lady, yet she is served by only three palace maids, and the other two are acting like cunning and deceitful women."

"She has her own selfish motives, and so do you. Today, let's not discuss emotions, but reason."

"You are in charge of the affairs of the six palaces. Xiangyun Pavilion is understaffed and the palace servants are slacking off. Is this considered your fault, Concubine Jingshu?"

When Concubine Jingshu heard these words, she suddenly realized what Xie Run was thinking.

Concubine Jing Shu: "Do you suspect that I am deliberately tormenting her?!"

Xie Run's eyes were clear and upright. "Maybe it wasn't intentional, but it was definitely not unintentional."

"Hmph." Concubine Jing Shu didn't shy away from the question. "You and I have both been in charge of palace affairs. We naturally know that everyone in this palace flatters the powerful and bullies the weak. She's incompetent and immoral, can't keep anyone, and can't afford to bribe them. Who would be willing to serve her?"

"What is my status? What is her status? Is she worthy of me dealing with her personally?"

Xie Run: "You didn't deal with her personally, you just shut her out and expressed your dislike directly."

"The palace maids were initially afraid of her because she gave birth to a prince, and they still had some respect for her. But with your contempt and disregard, whether to please you or out of fear of offending you, they naturally followed the trend and targeted Concubine Wu."

"You clearly knew about it, but you never did anything about it. This is dereliction of duty."

"You also said that they are all people who have been in charge of palace affairs, so you should know all this?"

"What the superior likes, the subordinates must follow."

"If something happens to Lady Wu someday, even if you clear yourself of all blame, some consequences cannot be completely erased."

The love and grudges between mother and child are also unreasonable.

Concubine Jingshu turned away, feeling somewhat dissatisfied, but she also knew that Xie Run was right.

Because of this, while she disliked and resented Concubine Wu, she also felt a little guilty.

Just now when she was scolding Lady Wu, she was still able to hide her guilty conscience with confidence.

But faced with Xie Runyun's calm questioning, he was speechless for a moment.

"As you rebuked Concubine Wu for saying, if you truly loved the Seventh Prince, you wouldn't have made her mother's life so difficult."

"When the Seventh Prince grows up and learns about the conflict between his biological mother and adoptive mother, how will he cope?"

"You were the one who planted this rift with your own hands."

Concubine Jing Shu was a little annoyed and angry: "Sister Zhao Guifei is so kind, why don't you let Concubine Wu take care of her from now on?!"

"After all, you also have the responsibility of assisting the six palaces!"

Xie Run: "I have a responsibility to take care of her, but it is only within my duty. There is no need to worry about the so-called mother-son relationship."

Both of them knew that the so-called care within their duty was just to make sure they had a clear conscience, and it would not allow Concubine Wu to live two more days.

Xie Run didn't care whether the Seventh Prince resented or was grateful to her, but Concubine Jing Shu definitely did.

Xie Run: "I don't care about anyone's selfishness, but I just want no more deaths this year."

If the palace held four funerals in a row in just two or three months, it would be too embarrassing to tell others about it.

Concubine Jingshu still looked stubborn.

Xie Run: "At least she survived this winter."

"Don't forget, the Emperor hasn't registered the Seventh Prince under your name yet."

Concubine Jing Shu suddenly looked up at Xie Run, with a hint of redness in her eyes.

Originally, Xie Run didn't intend to say this, for fear of hurting Concubine Jing Shu's feelings.

But if I don't say it, I'm afraid Concubine Jing Shu will become more and more obsessed with it.

Some words become annoying if you say them too much.

Xie Run gave Dan Tao some instructions and asked her to make some arrangements in Xiangyun Pavilion so that Concubine Wu could have a better life for the rest of her life.

After staying for a while, Xie Run took his men away.

Concubine Jingshu originally didn't want to stay in Xiangyun Pavilion for a moment, and she didn't want to see Concubine Wu's face full of scheming.

But after sitting in Xiangyun Palace for a long time, she had to admit that Xie Run was right.

She developed true feelings for the Seventh Prince, which gave rise to her soft spot and paranoia.

People with weaknesses are ultimately not as willing to take risks as they used to be.

Xie Run's last words not only hit her soft spot, but also broke her self-defense.

After the two left Xiangyun Pavilion, Concubine Wu's life became better.

Xie Run only ordered everyone to make up for Concubine Wu's shortage according to the rules, but Concubine Jing Shu deliberately doubled Concubine Wu's original allotment.

She is a person who can do things beautifully.

For fear of criticism, Concubine Jingshu only arranged for the extra amount to be deducted from her own share, and also had many precious medicinal herbs specially sent to Concubine Wu.

For a moment, the tone in the palace changed slightly.

But Concubine Wu was not satisfied and thought that Concubine Jingshu was afraid of her.

After he recovered a little, he braved the wind and snow to go to Yongning Palace.

She could never conceal her little thoughts.

In the past, when Concubine Jingshu was powerful, she would go to see it secretly. Even if she couldn't see it, she would still go for a walk and make a fuss about it, which was known to everyone.

Now that Concubine Jingshu has taken a step back, she will take a step closer and directly climb the gate of Yongning Palace.