The rumors of the Yu family's sixth daughter driving away her cousin had spread like wildfire, with the greatest credit going to Lady Luo, the wife of Marquis Chengen.
Lady Luo was truly a Luo. While she lacked a mind for serious matters, she never disappointed when it came to stirring up trouble.
Consort Yao naturally guessed that some members of the Yao family were fanning the flames. Having accompanied the Sage for many years, she understood his temperament to some extent. The Sage's words just now carried a warning.
Back then, she had merely praised Yu Mingyue a few times, and the Sage had taken the opportunity to name Yu Mingyue as the Crown Prince's Consort.
Everyone thought it was because the Sage doted on her, but she knew that the Sage looked down upon the Yao family's daughters and was using this to deter the Yao family's ambitions.
She didn't dislike Yu Mingyue. On the contrary, she was very fond of the aristocratic influence behind Yu Mingyue.
She had lost to that bitch back then precisely because she lacked an aristocratic background. Even after all these years as the de facto empress, managing the six palaces, she was still not officially recognized.
She liked anyone who was good for her Che'er.
It didn't matter who held the position of the Seventh Prince's principal consort; what mattered most was that her Che'er ascended to that position.
If Lady Luo continued to be so imprudent, she would incur the Sage's wrath, and it would be her Che'er who suffered.
...
Yu Mingyue swung idly on the swing, her skirt fluttering in the wind, her laughter carrying far.
Princess Huayang was about to arrive in the capital. She had to create some momentum first, to willingly offer up a handle.
After all, she was a person who considered what others considered, worried about what others worried about, and enjoyed helping others.
"Miss, the Seventh Prince has gone to Marquis Chengen's residence."
"Doesn't he usually dislike the Yao family..."
Although Xiao Che was born to Consort Yao, the Xiao family's powerful bloodline was fully evident in him. His dislike for maternal relatives was inherited from the Sage.
Therefore, the fate of Marquis Chengen's residence was not much better.
"The Seventh Prince sent a copy of 'Nu Jie' to Lady Luo, saying it was a gift from Consort Yao," Chihua said with a smile.
Yu Mingyue wore an expression of regret. Alas, she had to admit that Consort Yao was indeed a clever woman.
This way, it was a triple kill. The Seventh Prince's action was not only to warn his maternal relatives on behalf of the Consort, but also to avenge his fiancée, and to satisfy the Sage.
No wonder she had been favored in the harem for so many years; she was truly formidable.
As Yu Mingyue was marveling at Consort Yao's intelligence, a young servant from the outer courtyard rushed in to report that the Seventh Prince had arrived and asked the lady to come to the front hall.
"The Seventh Prince?" Yu Mingyue was truly surprised.
The Seventh Prince had always been aloof and extremely proud. Why would he personally ask her to come to the front hall?
In the past, she would have rushed to meet him upon hearing of his arrival, but he mostly spoke with her elder brother and paid little attention to her.
Actually, now that she thought about it, it was normal that the Seventh Prince hadn't chosen her. The Seventh Prince and her brother were in their prime, dashing young men. He wouldn't have been interested in a girl of her age.
"Greetings, Seventh Prince." It was fine for Yu Mingyue to be a little mischievous in her own courtyard, but in front of the Seventh Prince, she was naturally well-behaved.
"Get up quickly!" The Seventh Prince showed a rare hint of a smile. "I heard you've been learning chess with your tutor recently. I'll give you this chess manual to study."
Yu Mingyue glanced at it. It was precisely the Huang family's chess manual that she had asked her brother to find for her.
"Such a precious chess manual is too much of a waste to give to this humble girl. I cannot accept it," Yu Mingyue shook her head.
The Seventh Prince was personally tutored by the Sage and would be a wise and benevolent emperor who governed with diligence and cared for his people in the future.
However, even without Su Wanqing, she did not want to have too much contact with him.