无翼乌工口里番无色无摭挡

The chief eunuch of the Splendid Palace came to Prince of Yu’s mansion.

Li Hongyuan thought his concubine mother was looking for him, but the eunuch was actually looking for Jiang Ning.

“Concubine Xian asked for some osmanthus honey preserves from the Princess Consort of Yu.” The eunuch spoke with a smile, “Your Highness loves those. She hadn’t got any this morning, and she was almost upset. I rushed over here at once.”

“Honey preserves?” Li Hongyuan responded, “If my concubine mother fancies them, I can buy her some.”

“Oh no, the stuff made by those people outside cannot be eaten by Your Highness.” The eunuch tried to dissuade him while smiling, “Her Highness specifically wants the ones made by the Princess Consort of Yu. I dare not go back without them. Please pity me, Prince.”

“You wait here, I’ll go check.”

Li Hongyuan had the housekeeper invite the eunuch to have tea and pastries. He himself went to the Crystal Clear Manor.

Jiang Ning, leaning on Huang Ying and Chunlai, was strolling slowly in the little courtyard.

Her belly was already quite large, making her dress protrude.

However, her limbs still appeared slim, not at all cumbersome.

Li Hongyuan watched for a moment. Seeing her stop to rest, he approached. “Your belly, is growing a bit quickly.”

Jiang Ning sat down, wiping sweat with a handkerchief, not responding to him.

The larger the belly, the harder it became. She often wanted to lie down but could not. She forced herself to keep moving.

Who is the cause of all this?

He had the nerve to comment.

“Your Highness loved the honey preserves you sent her yesterday,” he finally commented.

“That’s good.”

“She sent someone to say she wants more to take back.”

“I’m out.”

“You’re out?”

“Look at me. How much do you think I can make at a time?” Jiang Ning pointed at herself. “Tell Your Highness to wait until I have rested for a few days, then I’ll make more.”

Li Hongyuan said, “Your Highness has always been favored. Whatever she likes, Emperor Father must give it to her. You refuse her now.”

“I am not her man. I don’t need to be at her beck and call.”

“You… you’re insubordinate.”

What nonsense was he saying?

But… Li Hongyuan didn’t seem truly angry.

Ever since he discovered that Jiang Ning’s temperament was similar to his concubine mother’s, he had become tolerant of her whims.

Emperor Father had put up with his concubine mother for decades. Surely he could do the same.

Still, he warned, “You can say such things in your own room, be cautious when outside.”

Jiang Ning looked at him, her expression a mixture of a smile and a smirk.

Li Hongyuan asked, “What are you laughing at?”

“Don’t you notice a resemblance between your concubine mother and my mother, Zizi?”

“Why bring that up?”

Li Hongyuan did not retort.

How could he not have noticed? Anyone with eyes could see it. Once his concubine mother entered the palace, she was greatly favored – she was spoiled for so many years. No matter what she did, Emperor Father doted on her.

In the end, she was just a substitute for Zizi.

Plenty of people thought so back then, but after so many years, no one brought it up anymore.

Emperor’s affection for his concubine was real and visible to all.

No wonder why his concubine was always cold to the Emperor.

Jiang Ning said, “I was just thinking, if your father Emperor prefers the same type of women, doesn’t that make him somewhat loyal?”

“That has nothing to do with me.”

Li Hongyuan replied calmly, “I just came to ask you, when can you make more honey preserves?”

“When I’m in a good mood in a few days, I will make them.”

“Yesterday, with just one box of honey preserves, you captured my mother’s heart and prompted her to compete with Concubine Xian for favor..”