Chapter 134

Chapter 134 Prince An received this news and was overjoyed. He hastily summoned his strategist to discuss the matter. Prince An: "Old Sixth is truly ruthless. She was, after all, someone who bore him children, and he killed her without a second thought." Prince An said this only in words, but in his heart, he quite approved. If this had happened to him, his blade would have been far swifter than Prince Jing's. Nor would he have allowed Lady Yun to die under the title of Concubine Consort. A person who bit the hand that fed them—did they deserve the respect of posterity?! The news that Concubine Consort Yun had colluded with Princess Consort Su to harm Xie Run was precisely what Prince An had delivered to Prince Jing. "It's just a pity the message was delivered too late. Old Sixth had already sensed something amiss beforehand and fallen out with Eldest Brother." "If it had been a step earlier, the two brothers would likely have made an even uglier scene." Prince An felt rather regretful about this. His strategist said: "Your Highness might consider inviting Prince Jing again to discuss important matters." Prince An frowned: "Why would I invite Old Sixth? He's currently at odds with Eldest Brother. If I get involved, Eldest Brother won't let me off easily!" The strategist said helplessly: "Prince Jing is, after all, Prince Su's own brother. Whatever Prince Su is planning, Prince Jing is bound to know something of it." "Is Your Highness not currently troubled over the matter of the disaster relief destination?" "If you ask Prince Jing, perhaps you might gain new information. You just did Prince Jing a great favor, so surely he would find it hard to refuse you." Prince An pondered: "That's true enough, but if I meddle in Old Sixth's family affairs, Old Sixth may not have said anything openly, yet in his heart he's likely already displeased." Prince An was no fool. He would never think that by sending Prince Jing that letter, letting him know that Lady Yun had colluded with Prince Su's household, Prince Jing would feel grateful to him. Before the strategist could speak, Prince An suddenly smiled: "I have an idea." "Since it's a family matter, then we'll settle it the way family matters are settled." "Isn't it just that Old Sixth lost a favored concubine? At worst, I'll compensate him with another one!" That very night, Prince An reserved the entire Drunken Sky Pavilion and hosted a private banquet for Prince Jing alone. Prince Jing had also been waiting for this opportunity. When the wine had flowed freely and the meal was done, Prince Jing's eyes half-lowered as he watched the beauties dancing gracefully in the great hall. Slender waists swaying seductively, radiating endless charm. As their gazes drifted, they were bewitching and spellbinding, like living demons in the mortal world. Prince An raised his wine cup with a smile: "Little Sixth, your elder brother caused you to lose a beloved concubine. How about I gift you another one now?" Prince Jing's wine-drunken eyes fixed on the dancing girl, seemingly captivated by her beauty. Prince An raised a hand, and the dancer turned in a spin, her skirt blooming like a lotus flower. With steps that seemed to birth lotuses beneath her feet, she slowly walked to Prince Jing's side. Prince An: "This woman is named Lian Ji. She is the star performer of Drunken Sky Pavilion, and today happens to be her shulong—her debut." "How does Sixth Brother find her?" Lian Ji held a wine cup, her eyes shimmering with moisture. She gracefully performed a bow, then poured wine for Prince Jing. Prince Jing said nothing, only drinking cup after cup. Suddenly he spoke: "Fifth Brother treats me well. I know it in my heart." Prince An's heart leaped with joy, but he put on a worried expression: "Old Sixth, regarding the matter between you and Eldest Brother, it is I, as your elder brother, who was at fault." At the mention of Prince Su's name, Prince Jing seemed greatly angered. "Why must Fifth Brother mention him? A ruthless, cold-hearted, ungrateful sort. Merely hearing of him makes me sick!" Prince An had no choice but to offer words of comfort. Seeing that Prince Jing's anger had diminished considerably, he pretended to ask casually: "Jiangnan is a fine place, but Eldest Brother doesn't seem to fancy it." Prince Jing, his face flushed red, let out a sneer, seeming deeply drunk. He murmured: "Of course he doesn't care for Jiangnan. What he cares for is that position in the palace!" "Once you and I leave, it will be his world!" Prince An, who had been about to probe for information, was so startled by these words that his very soul trembled. After having Lian Ji support Prince Jing away, Prince An immediately went to confer with his strategist. "What does Old Sixth mean by that?!" Prince An's expression was grave as he said cautiously: "Could it be that Eldest Brother intends to stage a palace coup while the rest of us are away from the capital?!" The strategist stroked his beard: "It's not impossible." "Prince Su grows stronger by the day, yet His Majesty favors the Eighth Prince, taking him along on several sacrificial ceremonies—a sign that he intends to name him Crown Prince." "Prince Su's temperament is proud and arrogant. He would likely find this hard to accept." "Rather than wait for His Majesty to name the Eighth Prince as Crown Prince—at which point Prince Su's position would lack legitimacy—it would be better for Prince Su to launch a palace coup first, turning passivity into initiative." Prince An's heart beat very fast: "You say this news... should we tell Imperial Father?" "Absolutely not!" The strategist immediately stopped him. "Does Your Highness have evidence?" "If the news leaks now, Prince Su can change his plans at any moment. Then Your Highness, as the one who tipped him off, would truly be caught in the middle with no one on your side." "Then what should I do?" "Between Prince Su and His Majesty, which one does Your Highness favor?" Prince An's blood was beginning to boil: "Naturally, Imperial Father!" "Although Imperial Father is muddle-headed and lustful, he has always controlled the court and the military. How could he possibly fall so easily?!" The strategist said softly: "Then Your Highness should pretend to know nothing. When Prince Su stages his palace coup, you can earn the merit of rescuing the Emperor." Prince An's eyes lit up: "That's a good plan!" He wouldn't have to risk his life either. The next day, Prince Jing brought Lian Ji back to the prince's residence. He said to the Princess Consort: "Arrange for her to stay in the Luoshuang Courtyard. Assign two people to attend to her carefully." The Luoshuang Courtyard was the place in the rear quarters closest to the front courtyard. He even specifically instructed someone to keep an eye on her. This gesture revealed an extraordinary level of favor. One had to know that when Concubine Fang had served the Prince on her second day, Prince Jing hadn't even left a single message. But the Prince favoring a lowly brothel dancer... The Princess Consort wasn't too pleased. The Princess Consort and Prince Jing shared the same honor and disgrace. If Prince Jing favored a dancer of humble birth, the estate's reputation would suffer as well, and the Princess Consort would inevitably face ridicule at future banquets she attended. How could she be happy? The Princess Consort was even more worried that Prince Jing might be blinded by beauty and do something that crossed the line. The rear courtyard also grew restless in spirit because of Lian Ji's arrival. One day, when the weather was fine, Concubine Lu paid a visit to Xie Run and brought up the matter of Lian Ji. "I've heard that the Princess Consort is quite displeased with this Concubine Lian. They say she looks alluring and seductive, even more so than Concubine Han was back then." Xie Run was preparing to embroider a tiger-head hat for the child, poking at it aimlessly with her needle and thread. Hearing this, she smiled gently. "A Lady of Beauty? Who doesn't like one?" "The Prince is a man; it's only natural for him to be dazzled by beauty." Concubine Lu had been cracking melon seeds, but she found something off about those words. "Concubine Xie doesn't mind?" Xie Run shook her head. "New people entering the estate is a common occurrence. What's there to mind or not mind? Living one's own life well is what truly matters." Concubine Lu smiled. "I do envy Concubine Xie's broad-mindedness." "I simply don't concern myself with anything—nothing ambitious about it." Concubine Lu naturally wouldn't dare to echo that sentiment, so she brought up another matter: "Quite a few people in the estate look down on Concubine Lian for her humble origins, saying that serving the Prince alongside her drags down their own status." Xie Run thought for a moment. "The one in the estate who would say such things—surely it's only Consort Fang?" Concubine Lu pursed her lips. "Exactly."