Indeed, events unfolded just as she had anticipated. The very next day, he had only just sent someone with a letter to the home of Yang Tinghua, the current Hanlin Academy Compiler and the Princess Consort’s younger brother, hoping this brother of the Princess Consort could properly advise her to stay quietly put for these three months before making any further plans. But the messenger had barely left when he planned to discuss with the Princess Consort about the Mid-Autumn Festival gifts to be sent to the palace this year, only to hear that the Princess Consort had gone out.
At this critical moment, instead of keeping a low profile and staying behind closed doors, she was actually running about as if attending a market. Chief Administrator Ling’s right eyelid twitched violently. He covered his eye and urged the steward’s wife to go to the Princess Consort’s manor to request the Princess Consort’s return. “Say that the young prince at home is unwell, and we dare not presume to summon the imperial physician without authority. Quickly request Her Highness the Princess Consort to return.”
Princess Duanhui originally hadn’t wanted to see her. In the current situation, even though they had shared some friendship in their youth, they now stood on opposite sides. No matter how great the friendship, it had to yield to family interests. Meeting face to face would only make things awkward for both parties. However, Cui Yingshu, who had been about to leave, stopped in his tracks and turned back with a suspicious question. “Who’s come?”
Princess Duanhui glanced at Shuanghua, who quickly bowed and replied, “It’s Her Highness the Princess Consort of Prince Gong. She sent a calling card in advance.”
Although the card had been sent in, Princess Duanhui hadn’t had anyone send a reply. She hadn’t expected the person to still come. Princess Duanhui straightened his collar for him. “I’ll go have someone send her away.”
She had made a trip to the palace yesterday and heard that the Princess Consort of Prince Gong had been there earlier. Originally, with Prince Gong having gotten into such serious trouble, it was perfectly normal for the Princess Consort to enter the palace to plead for mercy, so she hadn’t thought much of it. That was until news emerged from Qingning Palace that Empress Dowager Lu had fallen ill again. Only then did she sense something amiss. When she entered the palace to see the Empress, Empress Dowager Lu’s attitude was contrary to usual—she was somewhat cold even toward her and Princess Rongcheng. The two of them were truly baffled, like monks of eight feet unable to grasp their heads. They privately summoned Xie Siyi to inquire, but Xie Siyi only hemmed and hawed, unwilling to answer.
Princess Rongcheng immediately snorted. “Everyone says this sister-in-law of mine is virtuous and accomplished, but in my view, she may not live up to her reputation at all.”
Xie Siyi sighed. She was Empress Dowager Lu’s trusted confidant, so facing Princess Rongcheng, Empress Dowager Lu’s own daughter, she half-concealed, half-revealed the matter of the Princess Consort of Prince Gong’s instigation today, though she minimized it—she was worried on one hand that Empress Dowager Lu would truly develop a rift with the Song family and the Grand Prince, while on the other hand she felt that being too explicit and causing trouble for the Princess Consort of Prince Gong would hurt Empress Dowager Lu’s heart. She was truly caught in a dilemma. But even so, it was enough to infuriate Princess Duanhui and Princess Rongcheng. When Princess Rongcheng went back in to counsel Empress Dowager Lu, Empress Dowager Lu absolutely refused to admit to this matter, only claiming physical discomfort had drained her spirits.
Yesterday she had instigated Empress Dowager Lu to point the spearhead at Song Chuyi. Today, coming to her place, she certainly harbored no good intentions either. Princess Duanhui had no thought of seeing her whatsoever.
But Cui Yingshu’s eyes widened. “See her! Why not see her?” Seeing Princess Duanhui look over, he continued, “If she truly harbors ill intent, you can block her once, but can you block her a second time? Besides, didn’t she already provoke trouble before Her Majesty the Empress yesterday? You should see what she’s come for this time. Know yourself and know your enemy, isn’t that right?”
Princess Duanhui had no choice but to have the person invited in. Yang Shi was still as she appeared in memory—pretty and delicate. Even after bearing a child, she still wore a bashful expression, looking no different from an unmarried young lady. This harmless appearance was truly apt to make people lower their guard. Princess Duanhui said “Please sit,” watched as tea was served, then asked, “We rarely see each other. I wonder what matter brings Your Highness to my residence?”
Yang Shi smiled faintly and brought up some old matters with Princess Duanhui. After draining the cup of tea in her hand, she finally looked up at her. “I came at Madam Qin’s request to deliver something to Hualuan.”
Princess Duanhui hadn’t expected her to mention Madam Qin. She hesitated for a moment before asking, “Madam Qin? She went to Taiyuan?”
“After leaving Jinzhong, she first traveled to Taiyuan. We met once. Hearing that I would be rushing back to the capital with His Highness, she specially entrusted me to bring something for Hualuan.” She looked at Princess Duanhui and reached back to receive a small black box from the wet nurse’s hands. “I happened to think I hadn’t seen you in a long time, so I specially came to pay a visit. The Mid-Autumn Festival is in a couple of days. You know about our situation—it’s gotten into such a mess, and there are still many matters to attend to. Though we’ve already lost all face, we must still fulfill our filial duties… Afraid I might forget when the time comes, since I thought of it today, I came today.”
She spoke so directly that Princess Duanhui was briefly taken aback. Though her heart was full of doubts, she knew that no matter what, she wouldn’t be able to extract any words from Yang Shi’s mouth. After brief consideration, she said, “Then I’ll call her out.”
The Princess Consort of Prince Gong quickly waved her hand with a smile. “No need. Madam Qin also has a few words she entrusted me to pass on to her—all advice for young ladies, private words between women. I’m afraid Hualuan would be embarrassed to hear them in front of others. Why don’t I go see her myself? It would be more convenient.”
In the past when she came to Jinzhong as a guest, she had indeed frequently visited the Cui residence, but at that time she had still been an unmarried young lady. Now, however, she was already the Princess Consort of Prince Gong.
Princess Duanhui nodded. “This girl has been willful lately. Now that she’s become a young lady, there are many things she won’t tell me.” Having said this, she had Shuanghua lead the Princess Consort of Prince Gong to Cui Hualuan’s courtyard.
She had just finished giving instructions for today’s menu and decided on the place to receive guests when she saw Shuanghua already waiting outside the door. Waiting along with her was Cui Hualuan’s wet nurse, Nanny Little Xu.
She glanced inside. Cui Yingshu was just coming out after changing clothes. Seeing this scene, he asked, “What happened? What did she say to Hualuan?”
Nanny Little Xu’s face showed no particular expression. She stepped forward two paces and stood firm. “Her Highness the Princess Consort spoke with the young miss about His Highness the Grand Prince, and also mentioned Miss the Sixth’s affairs…”
Princess Duanhui’s movements paused. She turned her head to glance at Cui Yingshu, seeing his brows furrow. She couldn’t help but silently curse Yang Shi’s viciousness in her heart.
How could they as parents not know about Cui Hualuan’s feelings? Speaking of which, this was something they themselves had stirred up in the beginning. But now, after going through the events along the road from Yangquan, both Cui Hualuan and they had come to accept it. Now that Song Chuyi had already become engaged to the Grand Prince, there was even less to pine for. For Yang Shi to deliberately bring this matter up at this time was truly stabbing at people’s hearts.
Cui Yingshu gave a cold laugh, his face stern as he nodded to indicate Nanny Little Xu should continue. “What did she say about the Grand Prince and Miss the Sixth?”
Nanny Little Xu held nothing back. “She said His Highness the Grand Prince and Miss the Sixth are probably not well-matched. She said Miss the Sixth acts too ruthlessly and will likely damage His Highness’s fortune…”