Princess Fu An had been bedridden for a long time, and the驸马 often took leave to care for her.
Everyone thought he would die soon, as the驸马's attitude clearly showed how gravely ill Princess Fu An was.
Since they remained outside the center of power, the turmoil in the capital did not affect them.
The first to cause trouble was the First Princess's family. The First Princess and her husband were known for their affection, but she suddenly discovered that her驸马 had been keeping a mistress. Even worse, this mistress had a child older than the princess's son.
The First Princess could not swallow this insult and sought out her younger brother for help to vent her anger.
As she went to see the Third Prince, she noticed something amiss with his expression and realized he had already known about this matter but had kept it from her.
"A'Yi, you knew all along, didn't you?" the First Princess looked at her full brother with disbelief.
This was her own brother. Their mother's rank was not high back then, and they had supported each other in the harem. Even after she married, she had continued to support her younger brother financially.
Now, he had been helping her husband keep a secret from her. The feeling of betrayal by her trusted husband and brother made the First Princess feel unsteady.
"Eldest Sister, she is just a woman; she cannot shake your position," the Third Prince did not directly answer the First Princess's question.
"Just a woman, and that's why you kept it from me, watching them dote on each other, watching their child be several years older than my Cong'er. I am your sister, and Cong'er is your nephew!"
"Eldest Sister, how can the one outside compare to Cong'er? She is merely an outsider's wife, while Cong'er is of royal blood."
"Just a woman, just the child of an outsider." The First Princess felt she no longer recognized this brother she had grown up with.
Was this still the brother who said he would support her when he grew up? Why did he seem so distant?
"Eldest Sister, you understand that the position of Crown Prince is not yet decided, and we all have a chance. Don't you want me to ascend to that position?
Once I ascend, you will become the most honored princess in the entire court," the Third Prince earnestly explained to the First Princess.
The驸马 came from a prominent aristocratic family. In fact, all the驸马s had excellent family backgrounds. Although the Emperor could be cruel to his brothers, he treated his children very well.
This was especially true for his daughters. He had carefully chosen each son-in-law, considering their character, appearance, and family background as top-tier, fearing his daughters would suffer any injustice.
Currently, the Third Prince needed the influence of the First驸马 to help him secure the position of Crown Prince. He could not afford to let the First Princess and her husband fall out at this critical juncture.
He knew his Eldest Sister doted on him and believed she would endure for their future.
The First Princess looked at her brother, who kept urging her to endure, and felt he was becoming increasingly unfamiliar.
"I understand. I will trouble Your Highness the Third Prince here then." The First Princess tidied her clothes and turned to leave.
"Eldest Sister!" The Third Prince quickly rose to stop the First Princess.
"Your Highness the Third Prince, please stay. I know the way to the main gate; you don't need to escort me."
"Eldest Sister, must you be like this?" The Third Prince blocked the First Princess.
"Like what? My own brother and my husband have betrayed me, and you expect me to smile and say it's alright?" The First Princess looked at her brother before her, her eyes filled with sorrow.
"Eldest Sister, can't you just endure for my sake?"
"Endure? Alright, I will endure!" The First Princess's suppressed tears flowed the moment she turned away.
There was no familial affection in the imperial family. She had always believed that her brother, whom she had watched grow up, would not be like this. Yet, she had not expected him to become like this even before he had ascended the throne.
If he truly ascended, would he make her the most honored princess as he claimed?
Even if he did make her such a princess, what of it? He would surely abandon her for other reasons.
After the First Princess left Prince Ying's (the Third Prince's) residence, the Third Prince's heart remained uneasy. He quickly sent for the驸马 and explained the situation.
When the驸马 learned that the Princess already knew about it, he became flustered. However, upon realizing that the Third Prince had already persuaded the Princess, he felt slightly relieved.
"Thank you, Your Highness!" he bowed deeply.
"However, my Eldest Sister is very angry. Does the驸马 know what he should do from now on!"
"Yes, this subordinate believes he will not fail the Princess again."
Listening to the驸马's promise, he felt this outcome was quite good. At least the驸马 had promised not to wrong his sister again, and once he ascended the throne, the驸马 would not dare to.
Never mind how the驸马 apologized to the First Princess upon returning, or how she reacted, but this matter still erupted half a month later.
It was not the First Princess who caused trouble, but several other married princesses along with the First Prince.
The place where the驸马 kept his mistress was surrounded by the guards of several princesses. The mistress was dragged out of the residence, and the child, who was several years older than the princess's son, was forced to kneel before the princesses.
The princesses were already furious when they learned of this matter. Seeing the child now intensified their anger.
"Eldest Brother, does this驸马 truly have no regard for the imperial family?" the Second Princess's tone was filled with mockery.
She was not particularly close to the First Princess, but she understood the concept of "when the rabbits die, the foxes weep" and "lips gone, teeth cold."
If the First驸马's keeping a mistress went unpunished, and their own驸马s followed suit, what would happen to them?
Although she didn't know why her proud Eldest Sister had tolerated this insult, she could not.
"Let go of my mother! Who are you people, why are you arresting my mother?" the young man shouted angrily towards them.
"Do you know who my father is? I'll have him kill you all!"
"Oh, Eldest Brother, this bastard is quite something. I wonder who gives him the confidence," the Third Princess said sarcastically from the side.
But she looked at the child as if he were already dead.
"Take them away. We will personally inquire about the family education of the Duke of Zhuang's household!" The First Prince looked at the mother and son, his eyes filled with killing intent.
Although he had come to deal with the First驸马's mistress with the intention of sowing discord between the First Princess and the Third Prince, he could not suppress his inner anger upon seeing this mother and son.
The First Princess was the Emperor's eldest child. Although they were not born of the same mother, compared to his younger siblings, he and she shared a certain sibling affection.