“What should we do?” As Nie Wuying was worried about her sister-in-law, Commandery Princess Nanzhang was in tears in Ruyi Garden, tugging at a sleeve of Daiguo Grand Princess and sobbing, “Since I was married, Virtuous Consort has always been lukewarm towards me. And I couldn't help scolding her niece in front of the crowd this time. How could she help Prince of Wei?”

Daiguo Grand Princess was gloomy and said with anger, “If you had been so sensible earlier, wouldn't everything have been fine?”

“How was I supposed to know that Jiang Muting was in that pavilion?” Commandery Princess Nanzhang muttered in grievance “I wouldn't go in if I knew. The most hateful person is Song Yixiao! If you hadn't been so kind to help my cousin Roumei and her to comfort Cousin Nie, and if you hadn't sent my husband and me to accompany them, how would I have been so patient to hang around outside with her in such a chilly winter? It turned out that she sat by and watched Yuan Xuepei took Jiang Muting's side, and even went into battle herself to hurt my dignity!”

The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she got. “She never thinks about how Jiang Muting's maid treated her in Shangsi Festival! Now she just helps a stranger and turns her back on a real relative! No wonder other maids look down on her. They treat her like a slave but she's still happy to work for them! Just a complete b.i.t.c.h! My cousin Xubai is simply blind to have picked such a woman to be his wife!”

Daiguo Grand Princess sneered, “What do you know? Do you think Song Yixiao and Yuan Xuepei are defending Jiang Muting just for personal reasons or justice? They're taking advantage of your foolishness to draw Jiang Muting to their side. There was a gap between Virtuous Consort and the Jiang Family and us because of Prince of Wei's marriage. If they know that you hurt the apple in their eyes again and again, how could they not hate you? Compared with your rude and unreasonable att.i.tude, they are much wiser by defending Jiang Muting!”

She said coldly, “Do you think that Virtuous Consort and the Jiang Family will not support Crown Prince later?”

Even though she said like that, seeing her daughter crying endlessly, Daiguo Grand Princess's heart was softened in the end, and she sighed, “Luckily, it can be remedied!”

As soon as Commandery Princess Nanzhang heard this, she wiped her tears with a handkerchief instantly, saying with expectation, “How to remedy this?”

“Didn't you scold Yuan Xuepei that the reason why he helped Jiang Muting was because of love?” Daiguo Grand Princess said with a flinty look, “Whether it is true or not, let's make it real!”

Mockery appeared at the corner of her lips, “The fact that Virtuous Consort and the Jiang Family have a problem with us is nothing more than defending Jiang Muting! Since that's the case, if they knew that Crown Prince attempted to pair Jiang Muting off with Yuan Xuepei…”

It dawned on Commandery Princess Nanzhang, “Then it's a wonder they don't hate Crown Prince!”

Who'd like to marry his healthy daughter to a cripple?

Not even a hereditary marquis!

Besides, the Jiang Family was not lacking in wealth and power. The single-handed Yuan Xuepei, whose leg was crippled in terms of the power, was not so good as the Jiang Family!

“At that time, whether it's the Jiang Family or Virtuous Consort, although they won't support Prince of Wei just because of this, it's unlikely that they'll support Crown Prince!” Daiguo Grand Princess said calmly and composedly, “Then, you can coax Virtuous Consort as well as Princess Yushan. It is still possible to let them stand by your side subtly. After all, Virtuous Consort raised Prince of Wei as her own son, didn't she? As for Jiang Muting, she's already your underdog, is it fun for you to keep tossing her around?”

Commandery Princess Nanzhang said like a spoiled child, “I was confused, and I won't be like that again. But Mother, have you forgotten Prince of Zhao who is the son of Empress? What if the Jiang Family defected to Prince of Zhao?”

“Why can't you be smarter?” Daiguo Grand Princess felt helpless, “If there is no crown prince, it's just ok that you watch out for Prince of Zhao. Now, the position of crown prince, who was personally raised up by your uncle, Emperor Xianjia, is quite stable. What will we get to plot against Prince of Zhao? Isn't that a favor to crown prince!”

After all, “If the present emperor pa.s.sed away, the only one who could succeed to the throne directly in front of the coffin without any court discussion or election, was the present crown prince! Prince of Zhao doesn't have that right at all!”

“I'm just afraid that if the Crown Prince falls from power, Prince of Zhao will be too powerful to be controlled easily then.” Commandery Princess Nanzhang grew red and pale by turns and was discomfited, saying embarra.s.sedly, “After all, he is not only the son of Empress but also the offspring of the Su Family in Qingzhou which has a long history. Although they are no longer comparable in this dynasty with their elder generations in West Yong, they are still a n.o.ble family throughout the country!”

Daiguo Grand Princess sneered, “Does the Su Family need us to worry about? Not to mention others, the ones who support Xubai are still remembering the enmities between them! If it weren't for the Su Family's efforts when your uncle was fighting for the throne and the Empress's company with your uncle through thick and thin, how could Su Nianyi still be Duke of Ji who made Xubai suffer losses before?”

She was disdainful, “Your uncle remembered his former achievements and help, sentenced him lightly without considering disagreements of others. This old man is actually depending on your uncle to live his life now. When your uncle is alive, he is confident that he can control him and wouldn't mind showing mercy! If anything happens to your uncle, Duke of Ji will be put to death immediately, in case the new ruler is too young to suppress such an old minister. He is a patriarch of two dynasties and was in charge of soldiers. Such a restless old minister may cause great misfortune!”

Commandery Princess Nanzhang had nothing to say, so she had to change the subject, “We just take vengeance on Yuan Xuepei and Jiang Muting by making their marriage true. How about Song Yixiao? Will she be let off?”

“She is just a junior. I'll question her directly to her face when Roumei brings her over to the banquet later!” Daiguo Grand Princess didn't care, “However, she is your aunt's daughter-in-law as well as Xubai's wife. If we have gone too far, not only Roumei won't stand idly by, but also Xubai may tell your grandma after we went back to the imperial capital. It doesn't matter that your aunt may argue with this. But your grandma, who is partial to the Crown Prince, will jump at the chance to make a big deal out of it!”

Commandery Princess Nanzhang could not be reconciled. With a twinkle in her eye, she asked speculatively, “What is called 'going too far'? For example…Sad-crane?”

Sad-crane was a kind of medicine spread from the gra.s.sland in previous dynasties, which was also as well-known as White Jade Golden Ginseng, whose medicinal property was extremely cold. Those women who ate just a little of this medicine would probably be sterile and were pretty hard to cure. It was said that Emperor Yongping's first wife in West Yong, Empress Su, ate this when she was young. Therefore, even she was so beloved by Emperor Yongping and could always be together with him, it was pretty hard for her to have a kid.

She had finally just given birth to two daughters and a son, with the help of Su Family in Qingzhou which was then in their heyday, coupled with the power of West Yong royal family. And her son was a few years younger than the eldest daughter. Such a generation of favorite, almost ended up childless.

It was the only known example of a woman who ate Sad-crane and was able to bear children. The problem was that the cure was already lost because of wars.

Although Song Yixiao was considered a n.o.blewoman, she was no match for Empress Su at that time. Commandery Princess Nanzhang was sure that if she succeeded in doing so, the hateful Song Yixiao would never be able to have a kid, even if she kept Jian Xubai in her room all day long!

In that case, how could Empress Dowager, Jinguo Grand Princess and the others not let other girls move in Duke of Yan's mansion?

“She was not born in a very n.o.ble family. She won't have children, either. Even if she seduces her husband's heart temporarily by tricks she learned from her own mother, there will always be a day when she grows old!” The more Commandery Princess Nanzhang thought about it, the happier she became, “I won't even need to add fuel to the fire then, because of the riches and honor of the Duke of Yan, there will be plenty of people scheming against her! How dare she help Jiang Muting against me, ha!”

She eyed Daiguo Grand Princess, being afraid that her mother would flatly refuse.

“Then don't be exposed in your speech and behavior later. Song Yixiao is much smarter than you! If she finds out something, you just wait for your aunt to pay you back! Once your aunt really gets angry, your uncle will have to make compromises and by then I may not be able to protect you!” Daiguo Grand Princess pondered for a moment. After all, she could not let her daughter down, but reminded her, “Her ancestors were as glorious as the Su Family. Although they are in decline now, they are still a little powerful! It's said that the ones who used Sad-crane most were her ancestral families back then!”

“What's the use of having any power? She was not raised by the Song Family.” Commandery Princess Nanzhang reacted quickly now, and said eloquently, “Besides, her father doesn't care whether she lives or dies, and how could he let her know more? I bet she's never even heard of the word 'Sad-crane'!”

Daiguo Grand Princess did not say anything more, only waved her hand and asked her to make arrangements. However, they did not expect that at this time in Buyue Villa, Commandery Princess Qingjiang was trying to persuade Song Yixiao to slip away, “Yixiao, you haven't been in the family for long, and you're not very familiar with Aunt Daiguo's temper. She has always been kind to us for our mother's sake. But when it comes to protecting her children, even in front of our mother, she often doesn't give in!”

After hearing that, Song Yixiao suddenly remembered the first time when she met Empress Dowager, Commandery Princess Nanzhang envied her because of the pair of Rosy Sun and Hazy Moon Rings that Empress Su had given her! Commandery Princess Nanzhang complained in public and was berated by Jinguo Grand Princess. Wasn't Daiguo Grand Princess immediately argued with her sister?

“Of course, if Mother were here as well, Aunt Daiguo could berate you at most, you just need to endure and bow your head to make amends.” Commandery Princess Qingjiang continued, “But Mother isn't here now, and we're all juniors. Once aunt gets angry and wants to hit you, I may not be able to stop all of them!”

Remembering Jian Xubai's words, “Aunt Daiguo rushed to grab the n.o.ble Consort by the lapels, and gave her two slaps on both sides of the face,” Song Yixiao's face changed suddenly!

Aunt Daiguo was the one who dared to smack even Crown Prince's biological mother in the face, so beating up her niece-in-law was justifiable for her!

She said immediately, “So should I go back to the imperial capital now? It's just that if I leave, can you deal with these things all by yourself?”

Nie Wuying, who was sitting in the lower seat, had been worried for her sister-in-law on the way back. She said hurriedly when hearing that, “I can give my sister a hand!”

“It's late and it's in cold December, how can I not worry about you if I let you go back now? Besides, the city gates are closed, so you can't just sleep out for a night before entering the city, right?” Commandery Princess Qingjiang shook her head and said to Nie Wuying, “I need Wuying's help!”

Nie Wuying straightened her spine spontaneously, “Roumei, what can I do for you?”

“We all said you were a little unwell, and now we're going to go on with that. We will say that you have a sudden cold when coming back. I'm worried that Buyue Villa is too close to Ruyi Garden and you may spread your sickness to Aunt Daiguo so I've asked you to move to a place farther away!” Commandery Princess Qingjiang said, “As for Yixiao, she will follow to take care of you! So neither of you will be able to enjoy the cooking later!”

This would be a logical way to avoid going to the banquet at Ruyi Garden tonight.

After that, “Pack up your things immediately, go out through the back door, and take a shortcut to Yaohua Venue to spend a night! It's too late to clean other buildings. If it wasn't for Jiang Muting, you wouldn't have offended Prince of Wei and his wife. In my opinion, even if there's no extra room over there, it's impossible for you and Yixiao to be refused!”

After tonight, “Tomorrow morning I will arrange a carriage to take you back to the imperial capital! By then, even if Aunt Daiguo is going to look for you, she'll be too late!”

When Song Yixiao got back to the imperial capital, with Jinguo Grand Princess backing up, Daiguo Grand Princess wouldn't have a chance to let Song Yixiao get over it even if she wanted to!

By doing so, this crisis would be over!

Song Yixiao and Nie Wuying looked at each other, both of them felt that the countermeasures they had thought of on the road were not as foolproof as what Commandery Princess Qingjiang had said. Song Yixiao signed, “Wuying, I've got you involved in today!”

“Actually, I also think Princess Consort of Wei has gone too far!” Nie Wuying blushed when hearing this. Commandery Princess Qingjiang found Wuying's att.i.tude had changed dramatically after going out, who not only did not make a temper and said coldly, but also took the initiative to consider for herself and Song Yixiao. Commandery Princess Qingjiang was relieved secretly, thinking that they were family after all. No matter how much trouble she had made before, when she heard her sister-in-law was in trouble, she became sensible right away!

She signed with comfort while watching Nie Wuying leaving, but turned around to see Song Yixiao still sitting there and not moving, surprised, “Anything else?”

“Roumei, under the guise of taking care of Wuying, I can avoid going to Yaohua Venue, but what about Yuan Xuepei and Yuan Xue'e?” Song Yixiao was in a dilemma, “After all, they are also my husband's close friends. If they are chastised too much by Aunt Daiguo…”

“I can't help them with this!” It was not useful to mention her husband now, Commandery Princess Qingjiang said simply, “Yuan Xuepei was here to soak in hot springs. No matter where they change to live, they wouldn't avoid Aunt Daiguo if she truly wants to cause trouble. She just needs to send someone to watch over the area of the hot springs. How can they avoid her? Unless they just leave as you do without soaking in the hot springs. But Yuan Xuepei was hurt in his leg. Without the hot springs to relieve his injuries, he can't even sleep. How could he leave if he can't sleep?”

In the meantime, she looked at the sky and urged, “Stop this nonsense! If you don't leave now, Ruyi Garden is almost ready and will send someone to invite you… if you're discovered, you won't have a chance to leave! You were dragged here by me, and if you are wronged here, how do you want me to explain to Xubai?”