Even if Lord Fourth and Consort De had had a falling out, he was still her flesh and blood.
As a daughter-in-law, she was obliged to relieve her own worries and respect her mother-in-law accordingly.
What Consort De thought of her was not something she had control over.
Upon hearing this, Consort De paused for a moment before waving her hand. "Never mind, forget about it if you're busy. You're the first Fujin, so it's normal for you to be busy with the trifles of managing your residence. You can cease copying scriptures from now on; there are people here to do that. Your only concern is to take care of your own body and produce a male heir for Lord Fourth as soon as possible!"
This time, Consort De did not skirt around the topic but straightforwardly instructed her to expedite her pregnancy.
Hearing that, Ruoyin affected an embarrassed but still polite smile. "Daughter-in-law will keep in mind Mother's guidance."
"Good. As the first Fujin, you should be broad-minded. Since Lord Fourth is a Lord, it is inevitable that he has quite a few women around him," lectured Consort De, who was gradually imparting wisdom to Ruoyin. "Have you not seen how some of the lords in the palace already have misses and concubines serving them despite not even having their own residence yet? Compared to that, Lord Fourth's harem is considered small."
"Mother is right." Ruoyin nodded in agreement.
It seemed as though Consort De thought her earlier clinical depression had been caused by narrow-mindedness and pettiness. Because this was a topic that wasn't appropriate to be discussed out in the open, Consort De only insinuated that she should stop being jealous.
However, the cause of the real Fujin's depression was partly because she could not produce an heir, and partly because of jealousy, which was an accurate conjecture.
Immediately after that, Consort De chatted with Ruoyin for a while longer and even let her stay in her residence to partake in an afternoon meal. "Since I haven't seen you for months, stay and accompany me for an afternoon meal before leaving."
"Yes, Mother. Even though I had recovered somewhat earlier, I was still slightly sick, and thus dared not enter the palace to disturb Mother. I beg Mother's forgiveness," expressed Ruoyin on her strict adherence to palace rules.
She was worried that Consort De would only remember her faults since she had not paid her respects at her palace for a long while, and thus explained herself reverently.
Consort De observed that although she was a little plumper, she still looked slightly sick and colorless. She thus responded, "No matter. There are so many rules in the palace that entering is not easy. Since you look so pale, I'll have the kitchen prepare some health supplements."
As such, Consort De got the kitchen to serve up a few dishes that were good for the body for their afternoon meal.
They were cordyceps flower and black chicken soup, stewed peanut pigeon, steamed sea bass, steamed beef with tea tree mushroom, etc.
The Fourteenth Prince and Seventh Princess were also dining with them.
Luckily, Ruoyin was an easygoing person and a non-picky eater. She could eat almost anything unless they tasted extremely terrible, and the imperial kitchen did make pretty delicious food.
She drank a bowl of cordyceps flower and black chicken soup, devoured a bowl of stewed peanut pigeon, and polished off a bowl of white rice along with the other dishes.
Although Consort De was known as Kang Xi's woman, she was Lord Fourth's mother and Ruoyin's mother-in-law.
From a mother-in-law's perspective, she preferred Ruoyin's practicality to someone who simply put down their utensils after a few mouthfuls of food. It meant that her body was viable to carry children!
Even the Fourteenth Prince and Seventh Princess cast weird looks at Ruoyin.
They felt that their Fourth Sister-in-law was different from before.
The Fourth Sister-in-Law of the past was either reserved or did not have much of an appetite.
She had always sipped half her soup and had a few mouthfuls of rice before she stopped eating.
To put it one way, she ate so little that the entire table of dishes Mother prepared could only be bestowed upon the servants in the end.
As a girl, the Seventh Princess was more introverted and so did not comment on what she saw.
However, the Fourteenth Prince had been doted on as he grew up under Consort De's care, and he rarely had any qualms about speaking his mind.
He asked curiously, "Fourth Sister-in-law, you look like you've gained weight. Are you eating so much because you're pregnant?"
"Don't speak nonsense at the table. Your sister-in-law simply has a voracious appetite. Being able to eat is a blessing, and you should eat more too so that you can ride horses and shoot arrows," said a smiling Consort De.
It sounded like gentle coaxing disguised as chastising.
Ruoyin smiled as well and said, "Fourteenth Prince is growing so quickly that he's even taller than other ten-year-old boys."
She could not soothe the Fourteen Prince over Consort De's lecture, but she could praise him at least.
There was truth in her words, however. The Fourteen Prince was only eight or nine but was taller than the ten-year-old children in the capital.
It was probably because Consort De had fed him well. The Fourteen Prince never wanted for food in the palace.
"Fourth Sister-in-law flatters me." After being rebuked by Consort De, the Fourteenth Prince became polite.
Consort De gazed at the Fourteenth Prince lovingly. Her own son had to always be different and better than others.
Consort De was quite happy with this meal.
She was especially delighted that Ruoyin had a good appetite and was eating a lot, and smiled in gratification.
She was in such good spirits that her appetite was great, and she ate an additional half a bowl of rice to her usual portion.
After the afternoon meal, Ruoyin stayed a while longer at the palace before bidding farewell to Consort De.
Consort De gifted her some supplements and a coral gilded jade hair clip.
Ruoyin breathed a sigh of relief as she walked out of Yonghe Palace. Consort De seemed okay and not as scary as she had imagined her to be.
At the same time, she wished to simply maintain a dull and unexciting relationship with her.
Li Fukang had been waiting for her with the carriage before she had even finished going down the steps.
However, before she could get into the carriage, she saw Lord Fourth and his escort walk over to Yonghe Palace.
Ruoyin and Lord Fourth met gazes from a distance. She decided to wait for Lord Fourth to walk closer, and when he was near her, she curtsied.
Lord Fourth went forward and helped her rise. "How are you? Have you eaten?"
"Yes, the dishes at Mother's were delicious. What about my Lord?" asked a smiling Ruoyin.
"I ate at the Crown Prince's. Are you returning to the residence now? Or will you wait for your Lord?" Lord Fourth asked.
Ruoyin was shocked. She absolutely could not return with Lord Fourth or her plans would be dashed.
Thus, she pouted coquettishly and said, "It's alright. My Lord should stay at Mother's since you are only just going in to visit her. I'll look weird if I wait here."
"You do know how to dress up," remarked Lord Fourth suddenly as he took in her pale, classy nails and appropriate garments.
"I'm aware of the rules." Ruoyin frowned.
Did Lord Fourth think her so silly as to not even know that she had to put on appearances when she entered the palace?
Lord Fourth smiled. He looked up at Yonghe Palace before turning around to squeeze Ruoyin's hand. "Go back now, then. Your Lord will return afterward to take an evening meal with you."
Ruoyin paused. Did this mean that Lord Fourth was arranging a date with her?
She nodded and replied, "Go, my Lord. I still have to visit the Empress Dowager and pay my respects to her."
"Mm, you have to go, then, since it's rare that you're in the palace," Lord Fourth praised before making his way up the steps of Yonghe Palace.
Ruoyin watched Lord Fourth walk up the steps. Then, she instructed Li Fukang to drive the carriage to the palace entrance and wait there while she walked to the Empress Dowager's Ciren Palace.
When the subordinates outside Ciren Palace noticed Ruoyin's approach, they bowed and motioned for her to wait.