Han Suiqin blushed, "I know. It's just that Zhen'er sister has a deep misunderstanding of me because of this matter..."
Old Madam Wang and Wang Da were unaware of Wang Qingzhen and Concubine Ying's plan, and for a while, they couldn't figure out the source of the misunderstanding.
Han Suiqin put on a guilty expression, "Zhen'er sister has feelings for Prince Qi..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but Old Madam Wang and Wang Da understood.
Wang Qingzhen did have some feelings for Prince Qi, but Prince Qi had taken a liking to Han Suiqin. In short, it was a petty misunderstanding born of jealousy, not worth mentioning.
Old Madam Wang chuckled a few times, "Zhen'er is young and doesn't understand, don't take it to heart."
Wang Qingzhen couldn't complain to Old Madam Wang and Wang Da, but she could talk to her own mother.
That day, she cried for a while and cursed a lot. But the matter was settled. What could a concubine do? She could only curse along with Wang Qingzhen and comfort her, "I've always seen that Han Suiqin isn't a good person. Let her enter Prince Qi's mansion if she wants. What trouble can a mere concubine stir up? Didn't they say that princess from Xia Kingdom is also marrying Prince Qi? Can a princess give her an easy time?"
Wang Qingzhen was somewhat comforted.
However, on the Lantern Festival, the Emperor hosted a banquet for his officials at the Shangqing Palace and publicly bestowed a marriage upon Prince Qi. The principal consort would be Wang Da's niece, Han Suiqin, and the secondary consort would be the second princess of Xia Kingdom, Princess Yinyue. Han Suiqin and Princess Yinyue would be married half a year later.
The officials were stunned for a moment, trying to recall who Han Suiqin was. Wasn't Wang Da's only niece the Princess of Ding'an? Where did another one come from, and with such great honor to have Princess Yinyue as a secondary consort?
Wang Da, in extreme shock, quickly knelt to express his gratitude.
This was truly a blessing that could not be obtained even by burning incense for three lifetimes.
When the Emperor had questioned him earlier, his political acumen had led him to suspect that Han Suiqin entering Prince Qi's mansion would not be merely as a concubine, but perhaps with the rank of a lady-in-waiting or a minor consort. He hadn't even dared to dream of a secondary consort, and yet she was to be the principal consort!
Wang Da was dizzy from the sudden imperial favor. The officials, hearing the news, all rushed to congratulate him and inquire about the identity of Han Suiqin.
Wang Da initially believed that Han Suiqin had bewitched Prince Qi, and Prince Qi, disregarding his status and overcoming all obstacles, insisted on marrying her as his principal wife.
He then regretted not having offered Wang Qingzhen to Prince Qi earlier, otherwise, after the Emperor's reign, he would have been the Empress's father, the maternal grandfather of the nation.
Prince Wang Zijing found an opportunity to quietly ask Wang Da what was going on. Wang Da replied, "Perhaps it's because His Highness Prince Qi dotes on her."
Prince Wang Zijing didn't believe it. He didn't yet know that Han Suiqin and Prince Qi were already husband and wife. He found the matter too bizarre.
The Emperor had only given an oral decree at the banquet. When Wang Da returned home, the imperial edict followed.
The royal family had only a few set phrases for praise. The Emperor had never met Han Suiqin, but when praising a woman, it was always the same few words: upright character and appearance, virtuous and gentle, well-versed in etiquette, possessing natural beauty, and so on.
Everyone in the Wang family, except for Wang Da, was bewildered.
Han Suiqin herself was also bewildered.
She, the illegitimate daughter of a family with no power or influence, was to become the Princess Consort of Prince Qi?
For a moment, she felt at a loss.
After the eunuch who delivered the edict left, the Wang family erupted.
Old Madam Wang was so delighted that she wanted to go to the ancestral hall to burn incense, as if Han Suiqin were her own granddaughter.
Wang Qingzhen, from initial disbelief to a surge of fury, was even more enraged than when she learned Han Suiqin had stolen Prince Qi. She was so angry that she convulsed!
Princess Consort of Prince Qi!
Princess Consort of Prince Qi!
That was originally her position!
Her mouth filled with a sweet, metallic taste. Unable to bear it any longer, she lunged at Han Suiqin and began to strike her.
"You slut, you hussy, it's all you, you seduced Prince Qi!"
"I'll beat you to death, you shameless woman, I'll beat you to death!"
Amidst Wang Qingzhen's crying and scolding, Prince Wang Zijing finally understood that on the day of the banquet at Prince Qi's mansion, not only had Princess Yinyue and Prince Qi engaged in improper behavior, but Han Suiqin had also served Prince Qi, and Wang Qingzhen had originally intended to throw herself at him.
He found it all absurd. Watching the Wang family bicker and quarrel, he had no desire to intervene. Bai Junya understood him. They exchanged a glance, sighed, and walked back to their own courtyard, no longer concerned with this ridiculous affair.
Wang Qingzhen clung to Han Suiqin, who did not fight back, only dodged.
Wang Da roared a couple of times, but it was useless. Angrily, he slapped Wang Qingzhen across the face.
Wang Qingzhen finally quieted down, holding her face in shock.
"Father, you hit me?"
"Hitting you is the least of it. Qin'er is the future Princess Consort of Prince Qi. If you offend her and Prince Qi blames you, can you bear it?"
"I am your daughter!"
Wang Qingzhen forgot that Wang Qinglin was also Wang Da's legitimate daughter, yet he had let her fend for herself and not even allowed her into the ancestral hall after her death.
"Your grandmother and I have discussed it," Wang Da said. "We have always treated Qin'er as family. As long as Qin'er is willing, I will adopt her as my goddaughter..."
Wang Da and Old Madam Wang had already discussed the matter of a goddaughter, but they hadn't had time to mention it to Han Suiqin before she was bestowed the marriage. How could they delay now? Wouldn't they eagerly try to get closer?
Han Suiqin was also very obedient. Upon hearing this, she immediately said, "Qin'er is naturally willing."