"Princess Consort, I believe you should handle this matter properly, if only for your own sake," the wet nurse advised. If the Crown Prince met with disaster, the Princess Consort would not fare well either.
"Nanny, even if I cover this up for the Crown Prince, do you think he would be grateful?" Xue Ning'er saw it clearly. "He wouldn't. He'd think this consort was jealous of Madam Xu and deliberately picking a fight. Then I won't interfere. I want to see just how absurd they can get!"
"Princess Consort, what if the Empress blames you..."
"She gave birth to such a wretch, and she blames others? How shameless!" Xue Ning'er had once mentioned to the Empress that the Crown Prince was too preoccupied with women. How had her own aunt, the Empress, replied? She said it was normal for men to appreciate beauty, especially the Crown Prince, who would one day rule the world. The harem would have far more women than the Eastern Palace. If she couldn't tolerate these few women, her own measure as Crown Princess was too small!
The wet nurse lowered her head, sighing silently. The Princess Consort had indeed endured too much hardship. Even she, the wet nurse, couldn't stand the Crown Prince's recent behavior. However, if the Crown Prince ran into trouble, it would be bad for both the Princess Consort and the Duke’s mansion.
"Princess Consort, this matter is no small thing."
"If His Majesty discovers the Crown Prince consorting with concubines in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, he won't publicize it. At most, he'll severely punish the Crown Prince. If he doesn't suffer a loss, he won't learn his lesson," Xue Ning'er said slowly. "If someone always cleans up his mess, he won't change. He'll only become worse. Only by suffering losses, paying the price, and feeling the pain will he correct himself!"
The wet nurse considered this carefully and found it made sense. The Crown Prince's life had been too smooth. Without experiencing hardship, he wouldn't understand that those in high positions must always be cautious. Even as Crown Prince, he couldn't act with impunity.
"Should we inform the Duke about this matter?"
"If Father finds out, he'll surely make the Crown Prince get rid of Madam Xu. Then the Crown Prince will be displeased and will vent his anger on me. This matter must not be revealed. Nanny, I grew up on your milk. You've also seen how the Crown Prince treats me. Aren't you wronged on my behalf?"
"This servant knows Princess Consort has been wronged..." The wet nurse sighed. "Very well, it's time the Crown Prince suffered a loss. Our Princess Consort is not to be bullied either!"
A smile finally appeared on Xue Ning'er's face. "By the way, have we heard from Ah Kun?"
"Young Master is in the army and has been sending news back. Young Master is well. He's grown stronger during his time in the army. The Duke’s mansion has already given instructions to ensure he isn't put in any dangerous situations. Princess Consort, please rest assured."
"The Xue family has many descendants, but he is the closest to me. Although I don't know what he's thinking, abandoning the idle post his father arranged for him to suffer in the army, it's good that he has ambition."
"When the time comes, Young Master will earn the rank of general and bring honor to Princess Consort."
Hearing this, Xue Ning'er couldn't help but laugh. "I don't ask him to achieve great deeds. I only wish for him to return safe and sound. The Xue family is already prosperous enough. We don't need him to risk his life for wealth and status."
"By the way, Princess Consort, I heard that Yun Qi has declared a truce with us and proposed a marriage alliance, seeking a candidate for Empress from Yusheng. If the Fifteenth Princess were still alive, she could contend for it. But now, the only adult princess of the royal family who is not yet betrothed is the Ninth Princess. What do you think, should we try to contact the Ninth Princess?"
"No need," Xue Ning'er said coldly. "The young emperor of Yun Qi has always been cruel and erratic. If the Ninth Princess is sent to Yun Qi for marriage, she will provide us with no assistance. In a foreign land, with the Yun Qi young emperor's disposition, she could disappear at any moment. She would merely be a pawn."
"At least she would hold the status of Empress."
"Nanny, have you ever seen an empress of any country who was a foreign princess? Even if there were, did she have her own children?" Xue Ning'er sneered. "If the Yun Qi young emperor allowed her to bear him heirs, then Yun Qi's empire would have to bear the surname Nian Gong, not Murong."
The wet nurse swallowed. "Princess Consort means..."
"She is also to be pitied," Xue Ning'er shook her head. "Although she was raised by the Empress Dowager and officially adopted by the Empress, who truly cares for her?"
"Princess Consort, besides the Ninth Princess, isn't there also Princess Yongning among the unmarried princesses?"
"Her?" Xue Ning'er smiled. "If His Majesty dares to marry Xiao Man off to Yun Qi, the Xiao family will raise hell!"
Xiao Man toyed with the Phoenix Seal in her hand. How many people had lost their lives because of this small object? Was power so good that it drove people to madness?
"Miss, everything is ready," Ying Xue announced, entering.
"Since everything is ready, let's go out," Xiao Man put away the object in her hand and stood up, preparing to leave.
Qiu Tong entered with a cloak and carefully helped Xiao Man put it on. "It's a bit cold outside. Miss is frail, so you should wear more."
"You are always the most thoughtful."
Xiao Man, accompanied by Ying Xue and Chu Xue, left. Qiu Tong watched Xiao Man's retreating figure and couldn't help but sigh. "Miss won't say where she's going, nor will she bring me along. I always feel uneasy."
"Miss is going out on important business, and it's inconvenient to bring us."
"Before, Miss always brought me when she went out," Qiu Tong pouted. "Ever since Ying Xue arrived, Miss stopped bringing me."
"What, is our Miss Qiu Tong jealous of Ying Xue?" Yin Zhu teased. "It seems Miss is going to see Young Master Ling."
"Young Master Ling, which Young Master Ling?" Qiu Tong asked in confusion.
"Ling Xuan from the capital. I overheard Miss mention it. It seems Ling Xuan obtained something important from the Cen family, and Miss is going to confirm whose it is."
"Something important?" Qiu Tong looked surprised. "What important thing requires Miss to confirm?"
"I don't know either, but Miss looked at a small ornament she bought from outside for a long time at that time."
Qiu Tong looked puzzled, as if she didn't understand, but didn't press further. "I'll go get some bird's nest to stew for Miss. When she returns, she can eat it."
"Don't we have any left in the pantry?"
"No," Qiu Tong replied with a smile and then turned to leave the courtyard.
Yin Zhu watched Qiu Tong leave, smiled, and then said no more. "Miss is not here, guard the courtyard well. Don't listen to what you shouldn't, and don't say what you shouldn't."
Xi Yue felt confused. Miss was going to see Ling Xuan, and it was related to Cen Yu? What, did Miss intend to join forces with Ling Xuan to bring down Cen Yu? Impossible, Miss wouldn't cooperate with outsiders to deal with Cen Yu. Then, who were they joining forces with to deal with?
Xi Yue carefully considered all of Xiao Man's enemies. None of them were people Ling Xuan could handle. So, who were they joining forces to deal with?