Harem Daily Life

Chapter 1031 What's so appealing about pretty boys?

Before three days had passed, good news came from the Prince Jing's residence: the Princess Consort of Jing had successfully taken back her private property. As for the public property of the Prince Jing's residence, it was all handed over to Aunt Liu for handling. In front of Prince Jing and his son and daughter-in-law, she declared that she would no longer concern herself with the household affairs and would only focus on preparing for her daughter's wedding.

From that day on, Princess Jing no longer hid in her east courtyard, but instead dressed elegantly and luxuriously every day, taking her daughter and daughter-in-law out to inspect her properties. When she was hungry, she would go directly to the Sihai Restaurant for a feast; when she was tired, she would go to the theater to listen to music; and when she was in a good mood, she would even join the opera troupe for a performance, tipping the actors who pleased her. After a month, she smiled more, her mood improved, and she seemed to grow younger and younger, but Prince Jing could no longer sit still.

On this day, the princess and her two daughters returned to the manor from outside, carrying large and small bags of rouge, powder, clothes and jewelry. They went back to their respective courtyards, and the princess saw that Prince Jing, who had not visited her east courtyard for a long time, was waiting for her.

She raised an eyebrow, instructed someone to put away the things she had bought that day, and then asked, "Does Your Highness have something to discuss with me?"

She didn't believe that Prince Jing had come to rekindle their old flame. He wouldn't visit unless he had a reason.

Prince Jing touched his nose, feeling somewhat guilty, and said, "It's been a long time since I've visited you. How have you been?"

Princess Jing glanced at him and saw that his eyes were covered with dark circles, probably because he had spent a lot of time with that girl in the West Courtyard last night.

Princess Jing looked away with disdain: "Me? I'm perfectly fine, as Your Highness has seen. Before, I had to manage all the accounts in the manor, which was exhausting and I was often criticized for being old and losing my looks. Now I only manage my own private property, which is much easier. I even have time to take my daughter-in-law and daughter out and about, attending banquets one day and listening to music the next. I'm having a wonderful time."

Prince Jing took a deep breath. Since she had brought up the topic of listening to music, he went along with it and said, "I heard that you've been getting quite close to that opera singer Li Weizhi lately? You've been going to her shows for half the month, and you've managed to make her the top opera singer in the capital?"

Princess Jing chuckled lightly: "Li Weizhi sang well. How could I be the one praising her? It's because many hands make light work. She really has some talent and got there on her own merit."

Hearing her praise other men, Prince Jing was furious: "You are a princess, you should still consider the royal family's reputation. How can you spend all your time going to the theater? Also, your daughter-in-law should settle down and give birth to an heir for the royal family as soon as possible. Your daughter is also engaged, so she should spend less time showing her face in public. What kind of behavior is it to take her out to play all day long!"

Princess Jing frowned, picked up her teacup, took a sip, and said calmly, "It's strange. He Ziliang agrees that my daughter-in-law should go out of the manor more often to relax, and my mother-in-law often goes to the opera with me. She also praises my daughter highly. So why is it that when it comes to the prince, he finds fault with everything? He's so nosy. The prince doesn't even live by the sea!"

Prince Jing choked, opened his mouth, but couldn't find the words for a moment.

“Your Highness, you are busy with affairs all day long, and there is Concubine Liu in the West Courtyard who needs your care and concern every day. I don’t need Your Highness to worry about what I do in the future.”

When Prince Jing saw that the Princess Consort had given him the order to leave, the resentment he had been holding back all afternoon suddenly surged up: "I've spoiled you too much, and you've become too proud of yourself! A princess consort should act like a princess consort. In short, starting tomorrow, you can no longer act recklessly, and you are not allowed to go to the theater again!"

"He Mingqi!" Princess Consort Jing slammed her hand on the table and stood up, addressing Prince Jing by his given name: "You still have the nerve to say you spoil me too much? Aren't you afraid of biting your tongue when you say that!"

Princess Jing couldn't hold back any longer and started scolding: "What oath did you swear to heaven in front of my mother when you asked me to marry you? If you don't remember, I'll help you recall."

“You said you would only have me in your life and would never take a concubine. But after I had been married for three years and had just given birth to a son, you took a concubine, the illegitimate daughter of a fifth-rank official. I tolerated it because I was too weak to take care of you after childbirth. You also knew how to restrain yourself. For the first ten years or so, you were indeed very obedient to me and doted on me. I turned a blind eye and let it pass.”

"But what about Consort Liu? You met her at Fuyan Temple while offering incense, and despite the age difference, you insisted on taking her as your concubine. If she had just behaved herself, that would have been fine, but she kept instigating you, and you turned a blind eye and a deaf ear, eventually seizing my power to manage the household. I, Xu Ling'er, have managed the Prince's Mansion for nearly twenty years. Even if I haven't made any great contributions, I have certainly put in a lot of hard work, right? And you don't care about my reputation at all, saying in front of so many servants that I, the mistress, am old and senile, and incompetent in managing the household. How could you have the nerve to say that?"

Princess Jing, exhausted, caught her breath. Seeing that Prince Jing's face was also flushed, she continued, "I couldn't eat or sleep these past few days, and I was constantly taking medicine. Where were you then? You were in that vixen's bed! If I hadn't regained some spirit and left the manor to clear my head, I probably would have died of depression long ago! You keep telling me that the princess shouldn't do this or that, so let me ask you, what should I do? Would you only be satisfied if I died of depression?"

Prince Jing shook his head and explained, "How could I want you to die? Ling'er, we've been husband and wife for so many years, and I ask you, most of the time I've been on your side. I just... I just... You should ask around, who else in the capital has only taken two concubines like me? I've already done very well."

Princess Jing closed her eyes, trying to calm her anger.

Prince Jing sighed and said, "Your Majesty has three thousand concubines in your harem, and Prince Yong has two wives and three concubines. Which one of them doesn't have more than me? You should be content."

Princess Jing sneered, knowing that continuing to argue with him about this issue would be pointless.

"Heh, it's true that it's common for men to have multiple wives and concubines, but I didn't stop you from taking concubines or staying in the west courtyard. Go away, what are you doing in my courtyard?" Princess Jing sat down heavily, hoping he would disappear from her sight as soon as possible.

Prince Jing said helplessly, "Isn't this because you've been keeping actors outside the palace? You know, this wastes money and damages your reputation. Why do you do this?"

Princess Jing was almost laughing in exasperation. She did laugh a few times before speaking, "Your Highness, go and ask around. Which princess doesn't go to the opera? I only went for half a month. Princess Yu, on the other hand, only skips the first and fifteenth of the month. She's at the opera house every day."

After saying that, she gave him a defiant look: "Besides, the money I spend is my own private property, what does it have to do with the prince? Every single tael belongs to the Xu family!"

Prince Jing emerged from the East Courtyard looking disheveled. He knew he had been a bit unreasonable today, but he just wanted to persuade the Princess Consort not to go see any more opera singers. What was so interesting about those pretty boys who only knew how to put on heavy makeup and sing about romance and nature?

Instead of being persuaded, Prince Jing, filled with anger, went straight back to his study, refusing to even go to the dinner invitation sent by the West Courtyard.