Princess Ling was speechless.
Were these two children’s imaginations a bit too vivid?
“Is it because your father has never taken a concubine all these years, and our mansion doesn’t even have a secondary consort? So now that you see your father interacting with a young lady, you’re panicking?”
Princess Ling smiled somewhat helplessly, “Is your father that kind of person? Moreover, the other party is just a girl of sixteen or seventeen. Your father wouldn’t possibly fancy her.”
“Mother, you can’t say that. All men are lustful! I heard that the wretched girl is very beautiful!”
Chu Qianqian was indeed panicking.
She was the only county princess in the mansion, and her father doted on her.
But now, the girl brought back was around her age.
What if she became her father’s favorite? What would happen to her?
She was already miserable, being overshadowed by that wicked woman Chu Feiyan whenever she accompanied her mother to the palace.
Would she be suppressed by another woman in her own home now?
“Mother, quickly think of a way to drive away that wicked woman named Chu Qianli, otherwise, I… we, the three of us, will have no status in this home.”
“What if Father has a son with her? Would my title as the heir be snatched away too?”
Chu Nandong was also in a panic.
It was because they had always lacked status among the royal family.
His father never made alliances, and even the ministers didn’t think highly of him.
They were all eager to curry favor with Prince Hao from their imperial uncle’s family.
This caused him to have to detour whenever he encountered Prince Hao at banquets.
His father hated them causing trouble outside the most. No matter who was right or wrong, they would be beaten upon returning home.
His father didn’t dote on him to begin with. If he suddenly had a younger son, he would have even less status in his father’s heart.
“Mother, please think of a way!”
Princess Ling found it both amusing and exasperating. Why were these two thinking so much?
“Mother said that the girl is just the daughter of your father’s old friend…”
“Which old friend? I’ve already found out. She is from the Longteng Kingdom and was once their Empress.”
“What?” The Empress of the Longteng Kingdom?
Princess Ling looked surprised, “How could that be…”
“Mother, it’s true. This woman named Chu Qianli is very strange. There are so many stories about her.”
Chu Nandong had done his homework before coming.
“Mother, this woman has been with many men. Father is her fourth or fifth man.”
“Don’t speak nonsense.” Princess Ling’s expression immediately darkened, displeased, “Speaking like this can easily ruin a young lady’s reputation!”
“Mother, it’s true!”
“Have you seen her?” Why did this fellow investigate her the moment she arrived?
This was somewhat impolite.
Chu Nandong snorted and said sullenly, “How could I have had the chance to see her? She returned with Father and immediately moved into Father’s courtyard. Father even… even… disallowed anyone from disturbing them!”
Upon hearing this, Chu Qianqian stomped her feet even more angrily.
“Father has been bewitched!”
“These two Northern Ming princes who have arrived now have had relationships with Chu Qianli. One is her former husband, and the other had an engagement with her. The Northern Ming Emperor publicly bestowed the marriage!”
“Heavens! How can there be such a terrifying woman!” Chu Qianqian exclaimed in amazement.
Princess Ling, however, after thinking for a moment, shook her head and said softly, “Having gone through so much, she is likely a pitiable girl.”
She looked at her two children and instructed, “Now that she has come to our prince’s mansion, you must not bully her, understand?”