Chapter 289

Chapter 289 In the original script, the Princess Consort had difficulty conceiving, and even when Prince Jing was officially designated as Crown Prince, she rarely made public appearances. The court had been arguing about it every few days. In the end, Prince Jing still stubbornly insisted on establishing the Princess Consort as the Crown Princess. Unfortunately, on the eve of the investiture ceremony, she died from a massive hemorrhage, which spared them the dispute over who would become Empress. Now, the same scene was playing out again. Based on Xie Run's understanding of Prince Jing, once he set his mind on elevating the Princess Consort to the position of Crown Princess, no one could change that. Upon hearing this, Prince Jing glanced sideways at her. "I'm stubbornly insisting on making the Princess Consort the Crown Princess. Do you think I'm right or wrong?" Such a question should never have been directed at Xie Run. Whether Prince Jing was deliberately testing her or just asking casually, Xie Run didn't dare answer carelessly. Xie Run merely pretended to look confused and asked, "Why do the court officials object to the Princess Consort becoming Crown Princess?" Prince Jing's gaze was complicated. "They say the Princess Consort is a princess of the Xia Dynasty. If she becomes the Crown Princess of the Great Yu Dynasty, she would eventually become the nation's mother, which violates ancestral laws and traditions." "Violating ancestral laws and traditions" was just Prince Jing's euphemistic way of putting it, since he couldn't very well expose the Princess Consort's shortcomings to Xie Run. In truth, those old bastards had said far filthier things at court. Things like her bloodline being impure, that she would easily harbor thoughts of rebellion and usurpation, that they were elevating the Xia people too highly... Prince Jing had been furious listening to all of it. He hadn't been able to hold back at the time and had demanded in court, 'It was Imperial Father himself who personally arranged this marriage. Since the Princess Consort is so unworthy, are you all implying that Imperial Father was wrong to bestow this marriage?!' The Emperor had come to court while ill and was particularly irritable. When the court officials heard this and saw the Emperor about to lose his temper again, they immediately knelt in unison and admitted their mistakes. Prince Jing had gotten his satisfaction, but he'd also been thoroughly scolded by the Emperor. He was only able to be this arrogant because the Emperor had no other sons capable of holding things together. Xie Run, unaware of the storm brewing beneath the surface, simply said, "Since ancient times, there has been the saying that a married woman follows her husband. Since the Princess Consort married into the Great Yu Dynasty, she is a person of the Great Yu Dynasty." "If they constantly dwell on the fact that the Princess Consort is from the Xia Dynasty, then what does that make you, Prince?" "Aren't the court officials afraid of breaking your heart with such words?" Having been scolded all day, Prince Jing finally found someone to confide in. "Those old bastards, full of talk about righteousness and morality, spouting grand principles left and right, but when it actually comes to doing things, they're more shameless than anyone." "If the Princess Consort can't become Crown Princess, they'll be pleased with themselves, but my face will be trampled into the mud!" "In the future, when envoys from the Xia Dynasty come, they can point at my nose and call me a faithless man who humiliated his own wife..." Prince Jing's gaze gradually turned cold, and a thought had already formed in his mind. He glanced at Xie Run. "You're this good to the Princess Consort?" "First you called Divine Physician Xie to treat her, and now you even have the audacity to discuss the matter of establishing the Crown Princess with me?" Prince Jing still had some awareness of the rivalries in the inner court. Xie Run was currently the most favored, had borne a child, and was his Side Consort. If anything happened to the Princess Consort, she would have a chance to rise. There was no reason for her to be so wholeheartedly loyal to the Princess Consort. Xie Run: "...Prince, you're being completely unreasonable!" Xie Run said with grievance, "I dared to speak only because you asked me, didn't I?" Prince Jing: "I ask many questions. Why is it that you don't respond to every single one?" After saying this, Prince Jing himself felt he was being a bit unreasonable. But since the words were already out, he couldn't very well take them back. He looked at Xie Run, and Xie Run, with tears in her eyes, accused him, "Prince, tomorrow I still need to send someone to reprimand Consort Hua." Hearing Xie Run mention Consort Hua, Prince Jing frowned. "Out of nowhere, why are you bringing her up?" Xie Run accused him, "The moment you hear Consort Hua's name, you frown. Clearly, you know she's difficult to discipline." "Do you not understand why I've taken on this responsibility, Prince?" "If the Princess Consort were well, even if Consort Hua tried to curry favor at the entrance of Spring Mountain Courtyard, I wouldn't spare her a single glance!" Without the Princess Consort above to bear the burden, Xie Run was nearly worn down by the people in this household. "A mistress as good as the Princess Consort is rare to come by." "Now that I've encountered one, I naturally must cherish her, lest I end up with a fierce and vicious one in the future, and I can't have a single peaceful day." Prince Jing felt that Xie Run's words carried a strange, sarcastic undertone. Was she implying something? Xie Run subtly jabbed at Prince Jing: "Don't forget, Prince, Consort Jiang is still recuperating from her illness." "She faked a pregnancy, and that's bad enough, but she also tried to frame me. When that failed, she harmed Eldest Young Master and Consort Sun. I wouldn't dare decide this matter on my own—I'm waiting for you to handle it, Prince." Prince Jing: "..." If hearing about Hua Yu was annoyance +1, then hearing about Jiang Baobao was annoyance multiplied by n. Prince Jing was no longer angry now—he'd moved on to being troubled. "What do you think should be done with Consort Jiang?" Xie Run immediately regretted opening her mouth. In the past, Prince Jing never asked her such things. Ever since she took over household management, Prince Jing had been talking to her more and more, occasionally sharing matters from court and government affairs. Now he was even consulting her on how to deal with the consorts and concubines of the inner court. Xie Run couldn't bear the weight of it. "I wouldn't be worried if I knew." Prince Jing lowered his gaze and pondered for a moment. "...Wait until she's recovered a bit, then demote her to concubine and find her a quiet courtyard to recuperate." Xie Run glanced at Prince Jing, wondering whether this "recuperation" was genuine care or simply casting her aside to fend for herself. Xie Run: "Consort Jiang's body is severely depleted after the hemorrhage. If she's to recover properly, she'll need fine medicinal herbs—any one of which would exceed the allowance for a concubine..." Prince Jing: "She's done much evil, but she also rendered meritorious service in saving lives during the Seasonal Plague in Mizhou. Now her merits and faults cancel each other out. Besides, when Prefect Jiang entrusted her to me back then, it wouldn't be right to let her come to a bad end..." In summary, Jiang Baobao's past merits were being used to offset her current misdeeds. Should she offend again, Prince Jing would no longer consider old ties. Moreover, Prefect Jiang still carried some weight, and Prince Jing had no desire to kill his daughter outright and make an enemy of him for good. Prince Jing's gaze turned deep and thoughtful. "If she lacks anything, simply send it to her. Only she is not to leave the courtyard and cause trouble." Xie Run thought to herself—what good would it do if only Jiang Baobao stayed out of trouble? This time she had harmed Consort Sun and the Eldest Young Master, making mortal enemies of both parties. Prince Jing knew that Consort Sun had provoked Jiang Baobao's hemorrhage, yet from start to finish he never said he would punish Consort Sun—meaning he was letting the matter go. Consort Sun had gone unpunished, and with plenty of days ahead, would she lack opportunities to vent her anger on Jiang Baobao? As for the Eldest Young Master, Prince Jing was prepared to let bygones be bygones, but would the Eldest Young Master himself accept the loss? He wasn't foolish anymore—just slow to react, which in no way hindered his ability to hold a grudge. Xie Run kept these thoughts to herself, not daring to voice them. Perhaps Prince Jing knew everything and had his own considerations. Xie Run: "This concubine will follow whatever the Prince commands." Prince Jing took her hand and patted it gently. "You're clever, proper, and know how to please. I like that very much." "As long as you don't change, I will never betray you!" Xie Run had heard such words many times before. She simply lowered her head with a bashful smile, looking every bit the devoted and trusting concubine. After a moment, Xie Run suddenly asked, "Prince, you haven't yet said how Concubine Wan's funeral rites should be handled." Prince Jing cast her a dark look, somewhat annoyed by her lack of romantic sensibility. But when his eyes met her watery, peach-blossom gaze, a tingling warmth spread through his heart, and he couldn't help but clear his throat.