"Madam, there is no need to be angry," Princess Rui said, picking up her teacup and taking a sip. Her exquisitely made-up, noble face was filled with the smugness of victory. "You Qi still carries the Marquis's blood. The Old Madam and the Marquis will surely find her a good marriage."
Du Shi's expression remained grim. The fact that You Qi had moved to Chunhui Courtyard upon her return to the Marquis's manor indicated how much the household valued this illegitimate daughter. Furthermore, according to the news sent back by those Du Shi had placed in the Old Madam's courtyard, the Old Madam intended for You Qi's son to take the You surname and be sent back to the Marquis's manor later.
Du Shi raised her hand, signaling for Nanny Pang to retreat and guard outside. Only then did she look at Princess Rui with a serious expression. "It is acceptable for You Qi to marry into the Rui Prince's manor, but she must drink the medicine to prevent childbirth."
Du Shi's eyes were dark and fierce. This vast Marquis's manor belonged to Ran'er. Even if Ran'er was no longer here, she, as a mother, had to protect her son's inheritance and would absolutely not allow the son of that lowly You Qi to return to the Marquis's manor to inherit everything.
"Agreed," Princess Rui replied with a smile. Her intention in coming was to cooperate with Du Shi. For Cheng Ye to marry an illegitimate daughter, the goal was the Marquis's connections and resources within the military.
As for You Qi, she was merely an illegitimate daughter of humble origins. She was not qualified to bear children for Cheng Ye. Sterilizing her would be more convenient, as Cheng Ye's future legitimate wife would be of noble birth, thus avoiding any disputes between illegitimate sons and daughters and the legitimate heir.
"If this matter is settled, Your Highness may send a matchmaker to call," Du Shi said, offering tea as she saw Princess Rui out.
As for the future, even if the Marquis's manor discovered the truth and it was Princess Rui who had administered the poison, the blame would not fall on her.
Princess Rui did not linger. After all, she and Du Shi disliked each other. Of course, Princess Rui had agreed to Du Shi's request. It was just a matter of administering medicine, which was not difficult for Princess Rui at all.
...
The people of the capital celebrated the New Year with gatherings, but for these noble families, the New Year was even more tiring and busy, with endless social engagements. Zhan Feiyu had expected a peaceful New Year, but early in the morning, a post arrived.
Only the Seventh Princess had the ability to deliver a post to the Forbidden Dragon Guard.
Others feared the existence of the Forbidden Dragon Guard, but as a princess favored by the Emperor, Yin Xuan, apart from Yin Wuyan who could kill assassins in front of her, did not take the other members of the Forbidden Dragon Guard seriously.
He Nuan discarded the ashes and added incense slices to the censer again. Turning back to look at Zhan Feiyu, who was still staring at the post, she explained, "Since Prince Consort Zhang passed away early, the Zhang family has declined in the capital. Now, only the empty title of Princess Zhaoyue remains to support them."
Princess Zhaoyue was the Emperor's elder cousin. Due to the significant age difference, she married into the Zhang family when the Emperor was still a child studying. While the Zhang family was politely referred to as a family of scholars and farmers, in the eyes of these noble families in the capital, they were merely country bumpkins. After Princess Zhaoyue's marriage, Prince Consort Zhang, who had once been a second-class scholar, was only given a nominal position. Moreover, after marrying, the princess realized that the romantic life she had imagined was vastly different from reality.
The Zhang family curried favor with Princess Zhaoyue, simply wanting to secure official positions for their son. However, Prince Consort Zhang held a sinecure, let alone these members of the Zhang family who had no academic achievements.
Princess Zhaoyue only had a slight favor with the former Emperor. It was impossible for her to seek official positions for her husband's family. Furthermore, Princess Zhaoyue was not foolish; she could discern from the former Emperor's attitude towards Prince Consort Zhang that it would be impossible for her to displease the former Emperor for the sake of irrelevant people.
"The former Emperor was Princess Zhaoyue's imperial uncle. By rights, he should not have been so indifferent to the Zhang family," Zhan Feiyu said with great curiosity. After Princess Zhaoyue had been rebuffed by both the former Emperor and the current Emperor over the years, it was too demeaning for an elder to now stoop to flattering her cousin, the Seventh Princess.
He Nuan had sent He Sheng to gather information as soon as she received the post that morning. "Princess Zhaoyue's personality is not agreeable; she is too overbearing and arrogant. Prince Consort Zhang's early death was also due to Princess Zhaoyue."
If she were a favored princess, like the Seventh Princess Yin Xuan, who was doted on by the Emperor and Consort Min, and protected by her imperial brother, the Second Prince, with the Min family also being a noble clan, the Seventh Princess's arrogance naturally had a foundation.
However, Princess Zhaoyue was merely the former Emperor's niece. Her father had once vied for the throne with the former Emperor. In the aftermath of victory and defeat, Princess Zhaoyue's behavior was still so arrogant. It was normal for her to be unfavored and have few friends in the imperial family.
When the Emperor ascended the throne, Princess Zhaoyue not only did not help but also chose the wrong side.
Fortunately, the Zhang family was like mud that could not be plastered onto a wall, and Princess Zhaoyue herself possessed little ability. She held only the title of princess. After the Emperor ascended the throne, he was too lazy to deal with this cousin, but he became even more indifferent to Princess Zhaoyue.
This led Princess Zhaoyue to be subservient to the imperial descendants but to flaunt her Yin lineage and adopt a superior attitude towards outsiders.
As she grew older, her personality became increasingly solitary and stubborn. Her children and grandchildren were all incompetent, yet Princess Zhaoyue did not give up, seemingly wanting to rely on her descendants to restore the glory she had when she was first conferred the title of princess.
"So, she's truly relying on her seniority?" Zhan Feiyu put down the post. Logically, Princess Zhaoyue held only the title of princess, but the reason why her post for the sixth day of the Lunar New Year attracted the younger generation of the capital's noble families was precisely her reliance on seniority.
After all, in terms of seniority, Princess Zhaoyue was the Emperor's elder cousin and was a full fourteen years older than the Emperor. She was now in her twilight years and was considered long-lived within the imperial family, thus her seniority was naturally higher.
Therefore, apart from the true imperial sons and grandsons, other Yin descendants, under the guise of filial piety, also had to visit the Zhang residence. As a result, these scions of noble families also followed suit and came to the Zhang residence, not because of Princess Zhaoyue's post, but clearly to forge connections with these Yin descendants.
Princess Zhaoyue probably dared not offend the Forbidden Dragon Guard, so along with the Zhang family's post, the Seventh Princess's post was also delivered.