The Second Prince smiled, a mix of helplessness and doting in his eyes. "Alright, alright, whatever you say, I'll listen."
Su Qingyue's smile was faint. "Your Highness, thank you. The people who have been serving me these past days, I wish to bring them back to my residence. Is that permissible?"
"Yes, of course..."
"Your Highness, the people in our residence were assigned by the Imperial Household Department. These outside individuals..." Lu Ruoyun hesitated.
"It's fine. It's not as if our residence isn't allowed to hire people ourselves. As long as their backgrounds are clean, it's acceptable," the Second Prince said.
Lu Ruoyun smiled. "Then we shall follow Your Highness's wishes. The most important thing is to ensure..."
Earlier, Lu Ruoyun had called Su Qingyue "cousin-in-law," but Su Qingyue had rejected it. Now, Lu Ruoyun was unsure what to call Su Qingyue.
"Yunyun, you should call Qingyue 'sister' from now on," the Second Prince said.
Lu Ruoyun's lips twitched involuntarily. The title "sister" was reserved for those of higher status. She was the principal wife, and Su Qingyue had been demoted to a concubine. If she called a concubine "sister," where would that leave her dignity?
If she called Su Qingyue "cousin-in-law," others would think she remembered their past affection and that His Highness would see her as kind.
But if she called her "sister," how would others perceive her?
Su Qingyue watched Lu Ruoyun calmly. When Lu Ruoyun was about to lose her composure, Su Qingyue spoke with a smile. "Your Highness, how can the Princess Consort call me 'sister'? I am a concubine. It is always the concubine who calls the principal wife 'sister,' never the other way around. Currently, I am merely a concubine, not even a secondary consort. At most, I am considered a 'ru furen' (a concubine of lower status)."
"Sister, what are you saying..." Lu Ruoyun suppressed her anger and spoke charmingly, "I will listen to my cousin. Whatever my cousin says to call you, I will call you."
"Princess Consort, you flatter me. I dare not accept," Su Qingyue stated her position.
"Qingyue, don't be like this..." The Second Prince seemed a little flustered.
"Your Highness, my previous actions were already not favored by the Empress. If I do not behave properly in the future... Therefore, Your Highness, I know you care for me. But for me to return and rest assuredly during my pregnancy, it is best to follow the rules," Su Qingyue said gently. "Otherwise, the Empress might not hold it against me, but she might blame Your Highness and the Princess Consort for not managing the household strictly."
"Qingyue..." The Second Prince looked at Su Qingyue affectionately, his eyes filled with the unspoken promise, 'You have suffered, and I will treat you even better in the future.'
Fearing that the carriage might be too uncomfortable and jostle Su Qingyue, the Second Prince specifically asked Gu Sinian if there was a more comfortable carriage. The one they had arrived in was the most ordinary carriage from the residence.
Gu Sinian had a carriage specially made for Qi Zhenzhen, and its comfort was first-class. Sitting in it, one could barely feel any bumps.
After obtaining Qi Zhenzhen's consent, Gu Sinian agreed to lend the carriage to the Second Prince.
Su Qingyue, along with the people arranged by Emperor Chongwen and those assigned by Gu Sinian, returned to the residence with the Second Prince.
"This Princess Consort will remember the kindness of the Heir and Heir Consort well, and I will repay it properly in the future," Lu Ruoyun said with a smile.
Gu Sinian naturally understood the threat in her words. He smiled faintly. "We and my wife would not dare to refuse the Princess Consort's kindness."
The Second Prince, unaware of the underlying tension, said cheerfully, "Yes, yes, Yunyun is right. I truly must thank Sinian and the Heir Consort properly. If you ever need my help with anything in the future, I will spare no effort."