Chapter 64

Chapter 64 The Princess Consort's unhappiness was because she had seen Noble Consort Rou. Noble Consort Rou had enjoyed favor in her youth, which was why she could bear three sons in succession. But now that she was old and her beauty had faded, she had long lost the Emperor's affection, surviving only on the goodwill from her past relationship with him. Yet the Emperor's heart and eyes were now entirely filled with Consort Chen and the Eighth Prince she had borne him. He never went anywhere else in the harem, which left Noble Consort Rou with plenty of leisure time. Whenever Noble Consort Rou had leisure time, she liked to meddle in the household affairs of her two sons. Princess Consort Su came from a powerful family that held military authority, and she had an elder sister in the palace who was Consort De. Even Prince Su had to appease her to some extent. Naturally, she did not have the patience to suffer her mother-in-law's silent grievances in meekness. Noble Consort Rou also knew to pick on the softest persimmon, so she delighted in tormenting Princess Consort Jing. First, the Princess Consort was a princess of the Xia Dynasty. Her natal family was thousands of miles away, giving her no backing. Moreover, the very fact that she had been sent for a peace marriage indicated that she was not favored. Second, the Princess Consort had been childless for many years. With these two points alone, Noble Consort Rou could manipulate the Princess Consort at will. It was also thanks to the Princess Consort's intelligence and Prince Jing's added protection that she had been able to maneuver under Noble Consort Rou's hand for so many years. Noble Consort Rou had barely exchanged a few words with Prince Su and his wife when Princess Consort Su brought up wanting to go visit her elder sister. Noble Consort Rou not only could not show anger, but had to smile and send her off. Having suffered Princess Consort Su's slight, she was certainly going to find somewhere to vent it. As luck would have it, Prince Jing and Princess Consort Jing were right beside her. The smile on Noble Consort Rou's face slowly faded as she asked Princess Consort Jing, "Are the pregnant ones in your household doing well?" Princess Consort Jing replied respectfully, "They are all well. Come next year, Your Grace will be able to hold several grandsons." Noble Consort Rou let out a cold laugh. "Prince Su's household has no shortage of my grandsons—both legitimate and concubine-born. What I would like is to hold a legitimate grandson from Prince Jing's household." She spoke so bluntly that Princess Consort Jing could only admit fault. "It is this daughter-in-law's incompetence." "Merely being incompetent would be tolerable. But if one is incompetent and also jealous, that would be a grave offense." The Princess Consort's face turned pale. "What does Your Grace mean by such words? Though this daughter-in-law is incompetent, I would never dare to be a jealous woman." "I heard you deliberately raised the Eldest Young Master to speak with a foul mouth and even laid hands on a pregnant concubine?" Before Princess Consort Jing could speak, Prince Jing furrowed his brow. "Who has been sowing such words in Mother's ears?!" Prince Jing's voice was deep and magnetic, carrying considerable authority. The moment he spoke, he suppressed Noble Consort Rou's momentum. Seeing her son protecting Princess Consort Jing again, Noble Consort Rou grew even more displeased. "I am not yet so old that my eyes are blind and my ears are deaf! Do you dare say this is false?" "Of course it is false!" Prince Jing said without changing his expression. "Jue'er's birth mother is Lady Ning, and he was also raised at Lady Ning's side. If there is any fault, it lies with your son—for entrusting his own son to be raised by a concubine!" "You..." Noble Consort Rou was left speechless by Prince Jing's rebuttal. But Prince Jing was not willing to stop there. He continued, "I heard that several concubines in Eldest Brother's rear courtyard have died again. Mother might do better to concern herself more with Eldest Brother's affairs." "As for your son's household, the Princess Consort manages it very well. Your son is quite satisfied." Noble Consort Rou gritted her teeth. "Are you determined to oppose me?" She very much wanted to say—if the Princess Consort managed things so well, how could two Concubine Consorts have been poisoned during their pregnancies? But Noble Consort Rou knew that once Prince Jing opened his mouth to protect the Princess Consort, he would not mince words. In the end, it would be she who lost face. Prince Jing's eyes hardened, his phoenix eyes exuding a certain pressure, and his words were laden with sharp edges. "Must Mother insist on pinning the crime of unfilial conduct on your son and the Princess Consort before you are satisfied?!" Noble Consort Rou choked. "I..." Prince Jing laughed coldly, his gaze as sharp as a blade. "Even if Mother favors Eldest Brother, at least leave your son a way to survive. If Imperial Father were to hear words of your son being unfilial, would that do you and Eldest Brother any good?!" Noble Consort Rou raised a hand to rub her chest. "Fine, now your wings have grown strong. You can't even bear to be spoken to for a moment." Prince Jing's smile grew even colder. "Had Mother asked Eldest Sister-in-law before coming to question my Princess Consort, your son naturally would not dare to say more." "But Mother shows not the slightest concern for Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law's household affairs, yet constantly finds fault with my Princess Consort." "Is Mother dissatisfied with the Princess Consort, or dissatisfied with your son?" Noble Consort Rou was nearly angered to tears. "Must you stab me in the heart?" Prince Jing said expressionlessly, "Then it is your son's fault—I should not have mentioned your heart's darling, my Eldest Brother." Noble Consort Rou could not catch her breath. Before she could speak, Prince Jing bowed to her. "Since Mother is unwell, your son will take the Princess Consort to see Imperial Father." "The sacrificial ceremony will begin shortly. Mother had best wipe away her tears, lest Eldest Brother be suspected by Imperial Father because of it." Noble Consort Rou: "..." After Prince Jing had led Princess Consort Jing away, Noble Consort Rou pointed at the direction the two had gone. "You see? This is the fine son I gave birth to?!" The palace maids and eunuchs around her all kept their heads lowered, not daring to say a word. Those who dared to offer loyal counsel had all been dismissed by Noble Consort Rou, even her wet nurse Nanny Shen included. Now there was no one left in the palace who dared to advise Noble Consort Rou not to meddle in Prince Jing's household affairs. But neither did anyone dare to echo Noble Consort Rou in speaking ill of Prince Jing and the Princess Consort. Leaving Zhongcui Palace, Prince Jing and Princess Consort Jing went to the Shejitan. Prince Jing's originally displeased mood reached its peak when he saw the Eighth Prince standing behind the Emperor. Beyond Prince Jing, the other princes and imperial sons were equally dissatisfied with this matter. The ministers each harbored their own thoughts. However, since the sacrificial ceremony was about to begin, no one dared to say anything at this moment. The ceremony proceeded according to protocol. Originally, the ritual official was supposed to present the lit incense, the Emperor was to recite the prayer, and then the blessing wine was to be offered. But when it came time for the incense lighting and prayer, the ritual official did not step forward—instead, the Eighth Prince took over this role. The thirteen-year-old Eighth Prince was in the midst of a growth spurt, tall and thin as a bamboo pole, yet his face was still very youthful. Standing beside the Emperor, he was quite conspicuous. He respectfully lit the incense and handed it to the Emperor, and also took on the duty of pouring the wine during the blessing offering. Behind the Emperor, none of the several princes wore a pleasant expression. By the time the ceremony concluded, the court was abuzz with discussion. Everyone was saying that the Emperor intended to establish the Eighth Prince as Crown Prince, which was why the Eighth Prince had lit the incense and poured the wine during the sacrifice. Since ancient times, any prince who bore a certain ceremonial duty of transmission during the Emperor's sacrifices carried with him the Emperor's intention toward establishing the Crown Prince. The Eighth Prince was the youngest son, with six living elder brothers above him, five of whom had already established themselves. Who could accept this? The court officials were also displeased. If you intended to favor the Eighth Prince as Crown Prince, why keep it hidden from everyone? Pulling this move caught everyone off guard, stirring up discussion throughout the court—was that supposed to look good? The Emperor had handled this matter poorly, but Prince Jing, as his son, could not say a single word about it. He could only return to the prince's residence with an ashen face. The Princess Consort, recalling how he had shielded her during the day, could understand Prince Jing's displeasure at this moment, and so she gently advised, "Your Highness is feeling troubled right now—why not go see the Concubine Consorts and concubines who are with child?" "Seeing them, and thinking of the new additions to the household in the future, Your Highness may find some comfort." Prince Jing swept a deep, unfathomable gaze over the Princess Consort. "The Princess Consort is truly virtuous. It seems my mother has greatly misjudged you." Hearing this, the Princess Consort felt the words carried a mocking undertone. However, she was feeling quite lenient toward Prince Jing at the moment, so she kept a smile on her face. "This consort knows she is not gentle or tender enough to soothe Your Highness's frustration, so naturally she would not dare to claim the title of virtuous." Prince Jing: "..." Prince Jing actually wanted to ask the Princess Consort—since she was so eloquent—why she appeared so meek and submissive before Noble Consort Rou, not daring to say a single word? But after thinking it over, he still said nothing. By custom, on a major festival day like today, Prince Jing was supposed to stay overnight in the Princess Consort's courtyard. Now that the Princess Consort was being so magnanimous, if Prince Jing continued to stay here, it would make him seem rather shameless. He responded flatly, "Understood."