After the Laba Festival, the New Year atmosphere grew stronger.

The capital remained prosperous, and despite the freezing weather, it couldn’t dampen the people’s enthusiasm for visiting the markets.

Some New Year goods needed to be purchased early, as prices would rise the longer one waited.

Walking on the streets, one could see people smiling, hurriedly carrying ducks in one hand and pastries in the other.

For the common people, the deposition of the Crown Prince was still a distant matter; at least for now, they hadn’t noticed any difference from before.

However, as the New Year approached, officials and nobles sensed an impending storm.

Although no one had yet proposed establishing a new Crown Prince, the confrontation between Third Prince Jin Wang and Fourth Prince Qi Wang had slowly begun.

Today, an official from Jin Wang’s side would impeach an official close to Qi Wang for corruption and bribery. Tomorrow, an official close to Qi Wang would accuse someone from Jin Wang’s faction of bullying men and women.

Neither side made big moves, merely causing minor irritations, but it was enough to stir up thoughts in many people’s minds.

The Emperor was not young anymore. Even if they considered the Emperor’s feelings and delayed for now, the matter of establishing a Crown Prince would have to be put on the agenda by next year.

Jin Wang or Qi Wang, which side should one choose?

Amidst this subtle calm, Consort Xian’s birthday arrived.

Apart from the Empress, influential consorts like Consort Xian, Zhuang Consort, and Ning Consort would receive many gifts on their birthdays, even if they didn’t hold grand celebrations.

Especially now that the Crown Prince had just been deposed and Qi Wang had become the new hot candidate for Crown Prince, Consort Xian’s birthday banquet suddenly became lively. Even Princess Rongyang, who had come to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, rushed over to attend.

This had never happened before, and Consort Xian was quite pleased about it.

Although Jiang Si had avoided paying respects to Consort Xian on the first and fifteenth of each month due to her pregnancy, she had no reason to avoid Consort Xian’s birthday.

Moreover, she was already four months pregnant, and it was time to resume normal social interactions.

“I wish Your Highness eternal youth and good health year after year.” Compared to Qi Wang’s wife’s carefully prepared congratulatory words and gifts, Jiang Si’s were much simpler, which Consort Xian saw as mere formality.

“Hmm, you’re thoughtful,” Consort Xian said coolly.

Jiang Si wasn’t bothered by Consort Xian’s coldness and sat back down gracefully.

Consort Xian’s gaze fell on Jiang Si’s abdomen and asked, “It’s been four months, right?”

Jiang Si responded with a yes.

“It doesn’t seem very obvious. You should move around more in the future. Staying cooped up in your room all the time isn’t good for the child.”

This was a subtle rebuke for Jiang Si’s previous absence from paying respects.

Under everyone’s gaze, Jiang Si naturally wouldn’t contradict her. She smiled and said, “Thank you for your advice, Your Highness. I’ll remember it and come to pay my respects more often in the future.”

Hearing Jiang Si say this, Consort Xian felt slightly appeased.

Princess Rongyang, sitting to the side, suddenly said, “Your Highness is truly magnanimous, not blaming your daughter-in-law for not coming to pay respects for several months. When I was pregnant with Yi’er, I would go from the Princess’s mansion to the General’s mansion every day to pay respects to my mother-in-law.”

She looked at Jiang Si, the corner of her lips curling slightly, “Prince Yan’s wife is truly blessed to have such a wise and kind mother-in-law.”

Princess Rongyang held considerable favor with both the Emperor and Empress Dowager. For years, even harem consorts like Consort Xian had to show her respect and deference. So when she spoke these words, no one dared to say anything.

Not only did they not speak up, some even smirked secretly, like Qi Wang’s wife.

She had been dissatisfied with Prince Yan’s wife for a long time. Now that someone could publicly put Prince Yan’s wife in her place, it vented some of her pent-up frustration.

Qi Wang’s wife glanced at Jiang Si, thinking to herself that evil people would always meet their match. No matter how arrogant and willful Prince Yan’s wife was, she would have to endure Princess Rongyang’s sarcasm.

The palace was different from the outside world. Although Qi Wang and Prince Yan were Consort Xian’s sons, they only made brief appearances at the birthday celebration before leaving. It was the women who truly stayed to keep company.

Qi Wang’s wife knew that Prince Yan was bold enough to beat even the Crown Prince, but she didn’t believe Prince Yan’s wife would dare to speak up under Princess Rongyang’s provocation.

However, at that moment, a slightly cold voice rang out: “In that case, does Aunt mean that the mother-in-law she encountered wasn’t wise enough, and she wasn’t blessed?”

The scene immediately fell silent, with countless gazes falling on Jiang Si, who sat upright.

Had they misheard?

Princess Rongyang, however, didn’t doubt her ears at all. She slammed her hand on the table and said coldly, “Is Prince Yan’s wife saying I’m not blessed?”

Jiang Si smiled slightly, her gaze calm and fearless: “Aunt just said so herself. You envied me for encountering a wise mother-in-law and thought I was blessed. Doesn’t that imply that Aunt wasn’t so lucky and encountered a mother-in-law who wasn’t wise enough?”

In such a situation, if it were someone else trying to provoke her, she might have endured it for the duration of the meal. But faced with the murderer who had caused her mother’s death, she didn’t want to endure even for a moment.

“How dare you!” Princess Rongyang never imagined there would be someone so audacious as to contradict her in front of everyone.

“Prince Yan’s wife, casually criticizing your elders, is this the upbringing of a princess consort?”

Jiang Si slightly raised her chin, smiling calmly and airily, “As a princess consort appointed by Father Emperor, when someone questions my upbringing, I naturally have to prove to them that Father Emperor’s choice was not wrong.”

“You—” Jiang Si’s swift invocation of Emperor Jingming’s authority left Princess Rongyang momentarily speechless.

Jiang Si lowered her gaze, resuming her docile and obedient demeanor, and softly consoled, “Aunt, don’t be upset. Even if your mother-in-law wasn’t wise enough, it’s all in the past now. One should always look forward.”

Years ago, when her mother and General Cui were already engaged, Princess Rongyang had forcibly intervened, using the Empress Dowager as her backing. General Cui had initially strongly opposed this, and it was only when his mother threatened suicide that he gave up his resistance.

She could understand General Cui’s mother’s choice, but couldn’t feel any fondness for her. Calling Madam Cui not wise enough wasn’t unjustified.

“Prince Yan’s wife, don’t pretend to be naive!” Princess Rongyang felt as uncomfortable as if she had swallowed a fly, not appreciating this consolation at all.

The atmosphere became tense for a moment.

Jiang Si, however, remained unaffected. She gently stroked her belly and smiled, “They say that when a woman becomes pregnant, she becomes a bit foolish for a while. Thank you for reminding me, Aunt.”

Princess Rongyang was completely at a loss.

Heaven and earth were vast, but a woman carrying the imperial bloodline was the most important. If she said anything more and somehow upset this vixen, causing her even a slight headache, it wouldn’t bode well for her with her brother the Emperor, and her mother the Empress Dowager.

But Princess Rongyang had never swallowed her pride in front of anyone except the Emperor and Empress Dowager. At this moment, she felt as if there was a fishbone stuck in her throat, difficult to swallow.

It truly infuriated her!

Now she believed even more in what Mingyue had told her before she disappeared.

Mingyue’s fate must have been a trap set by this vixen!

Princess Rongyang narrowed her eyes, staring at Jiang Si.

Jiang Si fearlessly met her gaze, her slightly raised chin showing a hint of defiance.

Indeed, she had taken care of that little target Cui Mingyue, and she certainly wouldn’t let Princess Rongyang, another little target, off the hook either.

Princess Rongyang’s eyes contracted.

This vixen was provoking her again. It was simply intolerable!