The pregnant woman pressed down on the wife, and the cousin collapsed into the prince's arms.

Chun Tao practically ran back to the house. Her heart was pounding, and she felt lightheaded. Once inside, she sat on the kang (a heated brick bed), clutching the hem of her clothes and lost in thought.

Qiu Shi shared a room with her. When he came back from getting water, he saw that Chun Tao's face was flushed, and she was sometimes laughing blankly and sometimes frowning. He was startled and asked, "What's wrong with you? You're acting like you're drunk."

Actually, their relationship wasn't particularly good. Qiu Shi thought Chun Tao was unrealistic and impulsive, while Chun Tao disliked Qiu Shi for his seemingly steady but actually timid and cowardly nature.

But at this moment, Chun Tao had nowhere to vent her joy. When Qiu Shi asked, she stammered and said hesitantly, "The concubine... the concubine said she wants to promote me to serve the young master."

For a moment, Qiu Shi thought he had misheard, but then he realized that Chun Tao was really drunk.

Although Chun Tao's subtle feelings for the young master were always clear to them.

Previously, when the Crown Princess sent Chun Tao to Ningxiang Pavilion, she had the intention of making things difficult for the Consort. Under such circumstances, why would the Consort promote Chun Tao?

"How could that be? Did you mishear me?" Hearing Qiu Shi's question, Chun Tao was a little unhappy. She wasn't stupid, how could she have misheard?

Looking at Qiu Shi's unremarkable face, Chun Tao rolled her eyes and said, "Forget it, what am I supposed to say to you?"

Thinking that she would be the young master's concubine in the future, and that she would be worlds apart from Qiu Shi, and that the matter was still undecided, she couldn't show her joy so openly. As her reason returned, she shut her mouth and said nothing more.

Seeing her girlish infatuation, Qiu Shi believed her to a large extent. However, she still found the matter very strange, so she said, "Don't be so naive. Even if the concubine is pregnant and can't serve the young master, if she wanted to promote someone, she would definitely promote Green Bud and Snow Branch who are by her side. At the very least, there's Lanru and Yunxi. It certainly wouldn't be your turn!"

Chun Tao had no intention of chatting with Qiu Shi, but hearing her words, which were full of disdain for her, she couldn't help but get angry: "Why do you always pick on me? The concubine said that in terms of appearance, I am the best among the maids. If anyone is to be promoted, it should be me."

Looking at Chun Tao's indignant face, Qiu Shi knew that Chun Tao was beautiful, but something still felt off.

It wasn't that she was jealous of Chun Tao, but she and Chun Tao had been assigned to serve in Ningxiang Pavilion together, so they were practically in the same boat. If Chun Tao made any mistakes, she might be implicated.

Moreover, Chun Tao was always there to handle the relaying of messages to Jinlan Courtyard, so she was quite content with her lot.

Having served in Ningxiang Pavilion for so long, she has seen clearly that the young master's heart is now completely devoted to his concubine. Not to mention the old lady, who is the most beloved niece and is now pregnant, she naturally cherishes her dearly.

Once the Crown Princess gives birth to the child, whether it's a boy or a girl, the entire household will be transformed.

Qiu Shi just wanted to stay put and didn't want to offend the Crown Princess. She was afraid every day, afraid that the Crown Princess would remember some reason and instruct her and Chun Tao to do something. If anything happened to the concubine or the child, even eight lives wouldn't be enough to compensate for it.

Things had just calmed down a bit, and Chun Tao is up to her old tricks again. It doesn't matter if she dies, as long as she's not dragged down with her.

But seeing that Chun Tao wouldn't listen, she felt quite helpless.

Chun Tao's mind was filled with what Shen Yunshuang had said about the future. She secretly resolved not to say anything more to Qiu Shi before things were settled, so as not to let her jeopardize her future.

_

Ever since Shen Yunshuang told Chuntao about this, Chuntao has clearly noticed that she has been going into the room to serve her more often.

This also meant that she was seeing the young master more and more often, so she couldn't help but dress up. Although she still wore the same blue cloth dress, she would carefully apply a thin layer of powder to her face every day, sweep a light rouge on her cheeks, and then add a touch of peach-red lipstick.

Her hair was neatly combed, adorned with pearl flowers and a glittering silver hairpin, looking impeccably tidy.

Once, when Pei Jingnian came to Ningxiang Pavilion, Chun Tao slowly walked in carrying a cup of pre-rain Longjing tea, the pearl hairpin in her hair trembling slightly with her steps.

"Please have some tea, Your Highness." Chun Tao gently placed the teacup beside Pei Jingnian, glanced at him shyly, and quickly lowered her head, her ear tips turning uncontrollably red.

A strong scent of perfume wafted to his nose. Pei Jingnian frowned, looked up at the maid serving tea, and realized she was unfamiliar. He asked, "Did you hire a new maid?"

Chuntao and Qiushi have been at Ningxiang Pavilion for quite some time now, and Pei Jingnian only just discovered it, which surprised Shen Yunshuang.

She gave a slight reproach and said, "This is Chun Tao, the maidservant the Crown Prince's wife gave me. There is also a maidservant named Qiu Shi. Chun Tao, why don't you pay your respects to the Crown Prince?"

Upon hearing this, Chun Tao quickly curtsied and said in a soft, gentle voice, "Greetings to the young master."

The Crown Princess Consort… it was all arranged by Madam Su. Pei Jingnian paused for a few moments on the pearl hairpin swaying in the maid’s hair before saying indifferently, “Go down. You are not allowed to use such strong fragrance in the future.”

Chun Tao was feeling shy, wondering if the young master had noticed her. But when the young master spoke, it was a reprimand. She immediately turned pale and knelt on the ground, saying, "Your Highness, please forgive me."

Seeing that Pei Jingnian was a little unhappy, Shen Yunshuang dismissed the maid, gently cradled her pregnant belly with one hand, and leaned closer to Pei Jingnian, her voice soft and sweet: "Is Master unhappy?"

Pei Jingnian reached out and embraced her slender waist, his brows still furrowed, but his voice softened as he said, "Your morning sickness has just subsided, and this girl uses such strong spices; she should be punished!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Yunshuang smiled faintly, her slightly protruding belly rising and falling gently with her breath: "Master is too cautious. Chun Tao is young, and it's only natural for her to like to look pretty."

She snuggled closer to Pei Jingnian, her almond-shaped eyes clear and innocent, and spoke softly, "Shuang'er often thinks how lucky she is. Since coming to the Marquis's mansion, my aunt has doted on me, and I was able to marry such a wonderful husband as you, and I also have the Princess Consort."

Shen Yunshuang bit her pink lower lip and said, "Although I had heard some rumors about my sister before, and I was a little scared, after spending time with her, my sister never made things difficult for me. She even sent people to serve me. I suppose those rumors are just baseless rumors."