Although they're the same person, anything that has to do with the second prince would be sensational. Furthermore, if it has to do with his unruly wife...

"Did you hear about the second prince's consort? It has only been a month and she is already pregnant!", a small lady wearing pink gossips.

"Whaaa... That fast?", another lady with green dress replied.

"My second prince!!!!", their friend, a lady with rainbow coloured dress is in despair.

"Shut your mouth! Do you want to be killed?", the lady in pink and green hurriedly clamped the rainbow dressed lady's mouth.

"Have you heard about the second consort's viciousness? Do you want to die?", scolded the green dressed lady.

"Why? It's just a matter being a concubine!", the lady in rainbow dressed didn't want to shut up.

"Even if you're married in as a concubine, the second consort is already pregnant. You would never could oppose her! Her child will become the official heir!", the lady in pink said sensibly.

"But.. but... I don't want power. I only want the second prince's love", the lady in rainbow didn't want to give up.

"Foolish! The second prince loves the consort so much why would he care for you?", the green dressed lady couldn't believe that there's someone this stupid. Why did she befriend her?

"But I am beautiful and young!", the rainbow dressed lady is confident in her beautiful appearance.

"The consort is the most beautiful lady in the capital. From where did your confidence come from?!", the pink dressed lady has seen Li Xi Rui in the palace, so she would know the topic very well.

"Wasn't she's famous for being ugly and unbridled?", asked the rainbow dressed lady with curiosity.

"Aiya... This girl. How could you believe the rumor? The second consort has been hiding behind her veil. Now that she's married, she is not required to wear the veil. You could go take a look by yourself. Every week on the second day, the second consort would go to the tea pavilion. If you don't believe us, you could go see for yourself", the green dressed lady has also seen Li Xi Rui during her visits to the tea pavilion. At first she couldn't believe that someone who looks like that could be beaten down by the all those rumors. But if she thinks carefully, there might be someone who tried to slander the consort. If only she was also born with that face... 'Pei!', the lady in green could see her fate might be even worse than Li Xi Rui. Jealousy is really scary!

"If it wasn't I saw it by myself, I must still be a muddle head to believe the rumor", the lady in green tried to make her friend let go of her nonsense.

"Yes, who is the one responsible for that rumor? Even the first consort couldn't beat that sort of face. Aiya, if only I was that beautiful!", asked the lady in pink.

"She could get away with being vicious just because of her face!", the lady in rainbow could believe that Li Xi Rui might be a tad pretty but nothing could change her viciousness.

"A pity...", the lady in pink sighed. If only Li Xi Rui is as kind as Mu Jiu Jiu, she wondered if she could be friends with her? But their status is miles apart. Maybe, it will never become reality.

***
The imperial palace~

"Xi Rui, this Empress heard that you're pregnant? Come here, let me take a look at you", the empress has become unusually friendly?

Li Xi Rui and Long Jie had just arrive in Jian palace when a summon from the empress come.

"Mother empress, the pregnancy is still in the early stage. I wonder who had spread the news", Li Xi Rui smiled. If she has to guess, it must be the work of the chamber maids. It seems like they have not learned their lesson.

Grabbing Li Xi Rui's hand, she forces Li Xi Rui to sit on her throne and patting her hand slowly, "It is a woman's responsibility to bear children for her husband. Good. Good". With a smile is still on her lips, the empress said, "This empress wonder when will the crown prince's consort are going to be pregnant?". Usually, the empress would call Mu Jiu Jiu with affection. This is the first time she had called her with the title crown prince's consort.

At the side, the forgotten Mu Jiu Jiu slowly bow her head, "This princess is wrong. But, crown prince didn't want to have children just yet". Mu Jiu Jiu tried to calm her temper. It's only a matter of being pregnant, if it's not because she had to nurse her health after the abortion, she would be pregnant even earlier than Li Xi Rui!

Mu Jiu Jiu's answer displeased the empress, 'Is she blaming my son?'. Just for this woman, her son, Long Qing abandoned Li Xi Rui and almost cause the court to be divided with two factions. If only Long Qing had married Li Xi Rui, she would already be anticipating her first grandchild!

At this moment, the empress had forgotten the length she had gone to break the engagement. Li Xi Rui could only sneered in her heart.

"Forget it. Developing feelings between husband and wife is also important. But this empress need to remind you and Long Qing to put the country first!", the empress warned Mu Jiu Jiu. The nation need the next generation heir. If not because she had train Long Jie from small, she's afraid that the child in Li Xi Rui's womb would be a threat to Long Qing's inheritance.

"Yes mother empress, this princess understands!", Mu Jiu Jiu once again bow her head. Silently, she grits her teeth in frustration. Would it be alright if she didn't abort her child back then? She couldn't help but wonder.

"Xi Rui, let's dine here in the palace before going back. Mother has prepared a special a lotus soup for you", the Empress signalled the eunuch on her side. "For now, go with the first consort and enjoy the imperial garden", the empress urged Li Xi Rui.

"This princess understand", Li Xi Rui step back and bow her head low. Li Xi Rui is really too tired with this kind of scheming harem. If only she could just storm off the court, it might be better. The Empress was not complimenting Li Xi Rui in honesty but actually she wanted to force Mu Jiu Jiu to keep on trying being pregnant. Li Xi Rui didn't want to play these games that they're willing to throw themselves in. Why didn't anyone understand that and keep involving her?

As the two princess consorts backed away from the Empress's palace, Mu Jiu Jiu couldn't help but showing her hostility to Li Xi Rui with her eyes, 'It has been the third time you disgraced me in front of the Empress!'. First at the moon gazing banquet, second when Li Xi Rui beat Mu Jiu Jiu in showcasing her talent in sugar spun and sculpture, the third time is today! How much further could she endure being humiliated?!

"Follow me! Just because you're pregnant, it doesn't mean you could slag! Tell your maid to walk faster. Hummph!!!", after saying her piece of mind, Mu Jiu Jiu and her maid, Xiao Hua, left Li Xi Rui and Xiao Xi to trail after her. Mu Jiu Jiu doesn't want to waste her acting skill for the unworthy Li Xi Rui.

"The princess consorts! Wonderful", a man with an elegant voice called out to Li Xi Rui and Mu Jiu Jiu.

"Sister-in-laws!", another man cheerfully called them.

"Greetings", yet another man greeted them.

"This consort greets imperial princes!", Mu Jiu Jiu bows her head slowly. Li Xi follows Mu Jiu Jiu's action.

'How could my luck be so bad?!', thought Li Xi Rui. Who would want to meet these princes? If only Li Xi Rui could disappear like Rui Sheng, she won't stay here with the other princes and Mu Jiu Jiu.