Chapter 293

Chapter 293 After sitting for a while, seeing that the Princess Consort looked weary, Xie Run used the excuse that the steward matrons were waiting for her and took her people back. Tinghe saw Xie Run off, then turned back to look at the Princess Consort. "Master, Consort Xie has returned with her people." The Princess Consort sat quietly against the couch, her eyes slightly lowered. If one didn't look carefully, one might have thought she had fallen asleep. After a long while, she spoke softly: "Inside and outside the palace, they're arguing fiercely over whether I should be made Crown Princess, aren't they?" Nanny Li and Tinghe's expressions changed. They exchanged a glance, both instinctively suspecting the other had leaked information to the Princess Consort. The Princess Consort didn't even lift her eyelids. "No need to look at each other. I'm neither deaf nor stupid. A little thought is all it takes to guess." Nanny Li and Tinghe hurried forward to bow. "Master, you and the Prince are husband and wife by marriage, having supported each other through the years." "Even poor families have the saying that one must not cast aside the wife of one's humble beginnings—let alone the imperial household." "If the entire Great Yu Dynasty intends to demote a wife to concubine, our Xia Dynasty is not one to be trifled with!" The Princess Consort snapped sharply: "Nanny Li!" Startled, Nanny Li fell to her knees at once, her face full of trepidation. "Master." The Princess Consort's face darkened. "A woman follows her husband once married. Since I married the Prince, I am a person of the Yu Dynasty, with no further connection to the Xia Dynasty. Do you understand?!" "If I ever hear matters of the Xia Dynasty from your lips again, you will no longer follow me." Nanny Li had raised the Princess Consort since childhood and had never heard her speak such words before. She was nearly frightened out of her wits and quickly admitted her fault. "This servant knows she was wrong. I was momentarily overcome by anger and spoke without thinking." The Princess Consort's expression softened somewhat. "Nanny, those people in the Xia Dynasty are treacherous and ruthless, thinking only of their own gain. We must never have any connection with them." "Today you merely said it in passing; tomorrow they might truly come meddling in Yu Dynasty affairs under the banner of supporting me. That would be what truly forces me to my death." The Princess Consort understood the people of the Xia Dynasty's imperial house all too well. She slowly closed her eyes. "In another two days, if the debate at court still hasn't ceased, I will have to go and request to step down from my position. You should prepare as well..." Nanny Li was too shocked to know how to react. Tinghe's tears fell as well. "Master, this—what is the reason for this?!" Nanny Li was also panicking. "Master, you cannot do this!" "Though all the court officials now oppose you becoming Crown Princess, the Prince is supporting you with all his might, refusing to be a man who betrays his vows. If you step forward at this moment, wouldn't that be slapping the Prince in the face?" And then Prince Jing would be angry with the Princess Consort too, and her days would be even harder. The Princess Consort's faint gaze rested on the window lattice, a hint of distant, aloof light showing through. "It is precisely because the Prince is opposing the entire court for my sake that I should be sensible and step forward, giving both sides a way down." Prince Jing insisted on making her Crown Princess not because he valued her greatly, but because he was unwilling to be controlled by the court officials, and unwilling to bear a bad reputation before even becoming Crown Prince. If the Princess Consort stepped forward voluntarily and was willing to yield, Prince Jing would no longer have to bear that infamy. The court officials would not push their advantage further and would have no way to manipulate Prince Jing. This matter could only be resolved by the Princess Consort stepping forward to ease the tension. If the Princess Consort pretended to be deaf and dumb, letting Prince Jing and the court officials argue in the court, all the conflict would eventually converge on her. They would blame her for being a seductive temptress, or blame her for being overly self-interested... There would always be a reason to push the blame onto her. If the Princess Consort was sensible and took a step back herself, she could still preserve a measure of dignity. If it escalated to an irreconcilable point, and the neighboring Xia Dynasty came to meddle as well, the worst outcome might be death by illness. The Princess Consort came from an imperial family; she was all too familiar with the ways of manipulating power. Nanny Li and Tinghe both understood, but they were unwilling to speculate in that direction, always believing that Prince Jing alone could withstand all the pressure. Tinghe couldn't hold back her tears, which fell like beads from a broken string. It was Nanny Li who wiped her tears and rallied somewhat. "If we don't become Crown Princess, then so be it. As if it's really such a fine position?" "In our own rear courtyard, how many are content with their lot?" "Even now, before the Prince has entered the Eastern Palace, they're already at each other's throats. Once we're in the Eastern Palace with even more attendants, it'll be three days of fighting and two days of scheming." "Master, you narrowly escaped death and barely got your life back. You should focus on nurturing your health—it's just as well that you won't have to wade into all those messy affairs anymore!" The Princess Consort smiled faintly. "As Nanny says, having walked through death's door, some things need not be clung to so dearly." "Besides... let's wait another two days." It hadn't yet reached that point. Xie Run returned to her courtyard to handle some matters. Several of the maids had heard about the bracelet's special property and somehow obtained some arsenic to test it. The moment the snow-white bracelet touched the arsenic, it instantly turned a deep red, so vivid that from a distance it looked like a patch of red cloud, glowing through the jade with a kind of eerie beauty. The blood-red color in the bracelet didn't fade until half a day had passed. It left Xie Run and the others astonished for quite some time. Xie Run remarked: "The Princess Consort's gift is indeed weighty." And very much in keeping with her character. After examining the Tianqiao Blood Jade Bracelet and confirming it was flawless, Zihu handed it to Taotao and helped her put it on. After playing with Taotao for a while, Xie Run finally ordered the servants to begin setting up the mourning hall for Concubine Wan. As the Princess Consort had said, Concubine Wan's funeral was for show—to let people know that Prince Jing valued her affairs after death. Naturally, many arrangements required careful attention. At noon, Xie Run was taking a nap with his son when he suddenly heard that someone had arrived from the palace. Xie Run looked bewildered but quickly changed clothes to receive the visitor. The eunuch leading the group had a pale, beardless face and smiled warmly at Xie Run. "This servant pays respects to Consort Xie." The eunuch's enthusiasm made Xie Run somewhat uncomfortable. Xie Run: "I wonder, for what important matter has the eunuch suddenly graced our residence with a visit?" The messenger eunuch did not dare delay important matters and smiled. "His Majesty is gravely ill and suffering. The Crown Prince, attending at his side, suggested bringing the Fifth Young Master into the palace to see him." "This servant has received the Emperor's command to escort the Fifth Young Master into the palace." Xie Run paused for a moment before recalling that Prince Jing had indeed said that day, "One day I'll take him into the palace to see Imperial Father." But Xie Run had not expected that "one day" to come so soon. Feeling somewhat uneasy, she deliberately had Dantao accompany them into the palace. Back in her room, Xiaoshu noticed Xie Run sitting with her head bowed in deep thought and assumed she was worried about Taotao. She said, "Mistress, the Prince is still in the palace, and the Fifth Young Master has always been clever and endearing. There won't be any problems." Only then did Xie Run raise her head. "I'm not worried about Taotao." "Then what is it?" Xie Run: "I was just thinking—our Spring Mountain Courtyard doesn't have many people who can handle important matters." "Besides you and Dantao, there's only Zihu left, but Zihu cannot leave my side." "Yueya'er is still young and lacks seniority, and the others are ultimately not steady enough..."