Rebirth of the Cannon Fodder in the Entertainment Circle
Chapter 517: Cannon Fodder Princess Consort (10)

Chapter 517: Cannon Fodder Princess Consort (10)

After sitting for a while longer, Luo Ning returned to the Prince Mansion under Luo Zhen’s escort.

Just after she had finished her bath and changed her clothes, Lu Xiao walked in.

Luo Ning glanced at him and ignored him, picking up a book and flipping through it on her own.

Lu Xiao noticed she was wearing a light yellow summer dress, her hair simply pinned to one side with a hairpin.

Her fair and delicate face blushed after the bath, like a freshly ripened peach, tempting one to take a bite.

He immediately suppressed such thoughts and impulses, feeling it was unfair to the person he favored in the palace.

"Ning’er, are you still angry?" he sat down opposite Luo Ning.

Luo Ning continued to flip through the book, ignoring him.

This really annoyed Lu Xiao. He reached out and snatched the book from her hands, "Is this book more interesting than me?"

Luo Ning looked up at the handsome and extraordinary man, but only felt annoyance. Who gave this scoundrel such confidence?

She showed her impatience, "Why did you come over? Didn’t I arrange for Aunt Yu to attend to you in bed tonight?"

Lu Xiao: "..." Why did he feel like he was being rejected?

He frowned, "I’m not interested in any Aunt Yu attending to me in bed. I only want you."

Luo Ning felt disgusted. She really wanted to say thank you, no thank you.

She looked at him displeased, "Are you trying to harm me?"

Lu Xiao was taken aback, "How am I harming you?"

Luo Ning snorted, "If you don’t go to your concubine, the Consort will be unhappy again, and the people of the Capital City will say I can’t tolerate your consorts, calling me a jealous wife."

"If that’s not harmful, what is it? I don’t want to take the blame for you." She added meaningfully.

Lu Xiao felt another pang in his heart, "Take the blame for what? Our marital affection doesn’t bother anyone. They say that out of jealousy towards you."

Luo Ning gave him a disdainful look, "They’re not talking about you. Everyone says you’re a faithful and good man, while I’m the jealous wife who is destroying the royal bloodline."

"I don’t want to be such a villain in the future. Hurry and go to your concubine." She shooed him away.

Seeing her act like she didn’t care about him sleeping with other women, Lu Xiao, for some reason, felt a surge of anger in his chest.

"Luo Ning, I have really spoilt you, letting you become more and more unreasonable in your actions."

Luo Ning raised her eyebrows, "Then you can stop spoiling me."

"You!" Lu Xiao was stuck for words.

Remembering why he came, he took a deep breath, "I won’t quibble with you."

"What did you go and say to Brother Emperor with the Marchioness today? The Duke Dingguo is your father, how is it to your benefit if he and the Marquis Mansion are in trouble?"

He added earnestly, "Stop being willful!"

Luo Ning slammed her hand on the table and stood up, her fierce gaze fixed on Lu Xiao.

"They are all trying to harm my mother, why should I endure it? Whose side are you on?"

"I am your wife, but you side with Duke Dingguo. It seems I wasn’t wrong to say that all your love and favor towards me were false, as your choices have revealed your true stance at the critical moment."

She pushed Lu Xiao with her hand, "Get out, I don’t want to see you!"

Watching the angry and fierce Luo Ning, Lu Xiao suddenly thought this little wildcat’s appearance was somewhat cute.

Then he shook his head, trying not to think further.

He said helplessly, "It hasn’t been proven that the Marquis did it, why do you have to ruin your relationship with your father over it? I am not taking his side; I am doing this for your sake."

Luo Ning rolled her eyes, "I don’t believe you."

Lu Xiao reached out to hug her and comfort her, "Really, I will always stand by your side."

Luo Ning dodged and glared at him, "Then prove it to me."

"How should I prove it?" Lu Xiao, hugging air, was somewhat angry too.

Luo Ning raised an eyebrow, "You go challenge Duke Dingguo with a formal grievance. Say that he disregards royal authority, shows no respect to me as your Princess Consort, and accuses him of favoring his concubine over his wife."

Lu Xiao: "..." He’d have to be crazy to actually do that.

"Ning’er, stop fooling around. No matter what, he is still your father." He raised his hand and massaged his temples.

Luo Ning huffed again, "I have no such father."

"You’ve always just been appeasing me, Lu Xiao, I hate you, out, get out!" Luo Ning, face filled with fury, drove him out once more.

This was the first time Lu Xiao had been treated this way by a woman; Luo Ning had always been forever accommodating and indulging him.

He darkened his face, "Fine, I’ll leave, and don’t you ask me to come back."

After being driven out twice, his pride was wounded. He decided to teach Luo Ning a lesson and left with a flick of his sleeve.

He also wanted to send someone to inquire in the Royal Palace about the Emperor’s stance toward Duke Dingguo.

Luo Ning sneered from behind, "I absolutely won’t beg you."

Once Lu Xiao had left, Luo Ning took out the dowry list and went through it again, then had the steward bring over the accounts for the internal affairs of the Prince Mansion.

After looking it over, she realized that the Prince Mansion was indeed very wealthy, so she decided to use these funds to do some good.

The next day, Luo Ning let out the word that she wanted to find beautiful women to become concubines for the Prince, the more the better, as long as they could bear offspring for the Prince Mansion.

This news shocked the entire circle of noblewomen in the Capital City.

Everyone was surprised that the Capital’s most jealous woman was actually actively seeking to bring other women into her husband’s bed.

And given the two concubines she brought back to the Prince Mansion, it seemed genuine.

This also set many people thinking.

Shortly after the news was released, an imperial edict was announced in the afternoon, with the Empress Dowager bestowing a concubine upon Prince Rui.

And this concubine was Prince Rui’s own cousin.

Many were waiting for Luo Ning’s reaction, expecting her to oppose or do something since this woman wasn’t just any other concubine; she was the niece of the Imperial Concubine.

Surprisingly, not only did Luo Ning not make a fuss, but she also had the people of the Prince Mansion tidy up. Moreover, she hung festive red silk and lanterns on the main gate of the mansion, clearly welcoming this new concubine.

Luo Ning even declared that she was eager for the arrival of the concubine so that she could quickly bear children for the Prince.

This was incomprehensible to many.

Which woman would willingly want her beloved man to father a child with another woman? Had the Princess Rui gone mad?

Or was it that the two of them weren’t so affectionate after all?

Women tended to overthink; men simply believed that a wife and beautiful concubines were the natural order of things.

Because of this incident, people even praised Princess Rui.

The reputation of being the Capital’s most jealous woman was promptly overturned.

Could a jealous woman wish to bring more beauties to bear children for the Prince?

She was clearly the paragon of virtue.

And thus, Luo Ning’s reputation as a jealous woman was cleansed in an instant.

When Lu Xiao found out, he was livid. First, he was angry that his mother had arranged a concubine for him from the Empress Dowager without consulting him, leaving him with no choice but to accept.

Secondly, he was irate that Luo Ning’s audacity was growing, openly seeking beautiful concubines for him. To outsiders, it would seem he was excessively fond of women.

So, he stormed off to find Luo Ning, only to be shut out at the courtyard gate.

This was the first time in his life he had been shut out, and by his usually considerate and obedient Princess Consort, no less. How infuriating!