Unparalleled Beauty

Chapter C083 pt2

Upon arriving at Zhilan Pavilion, she found that there was no one else present this time.

"It's still snowing outside, and I've called you here to talk. Princess Consort Wei, you wouldn't blame this Majesty, would you?"

Unlike their last meeting, Princess Changhe was dressed much more casually this time, in simple home clothes. Although she was already over forty, she looked to be only about thirty. Usually, when people saw her in full regalia, her nobility was tinged with a sharpness that made people afraid to look directly at her. Now, with her face washed clean of makeup, she seemed to have gained a feminine and gentle air.

"How could I? This concubine has nothing to do at Yuxiang Pavilion and was quite bored."

Princess Changhe smiled. "That's good. That last incident happened so suddenly, and there were too many outsiders present, so this Majesty couldn't speak plainly. This time, I've called you here not only to explain the reason for that day, but also because I had nothing to do and wanted someone to talk to. Now that you're here, don't be restrained. Just treat it as if you were in your own mansion."

Afterwards, Mei Wushuang chatted idly with Princess Changhe. It was mostly Princess Changhe speaking while Wushuang listened. At first, she was reserved, but gradually she relaxed.

From Princess Changhe's words, Wushuang also learned quite a bit about Prince Wei's childhood. According to Princess Changhe, the young Prince Wei was extremely mischievous, often running wild and causing trouble at her princess's villa, quite unlike his current cold and steady demeanor.

'"This Majesty has no children and was on good terms with Consort Chen in my early years. I practically regarded him as my own son back then. He, too, has a hard fate, with misfortunes in marriage. Later, he went to the border regions for decades. Having finally returned and hearing that he was betrothed to you, this Majesty has been wanting to see you. That time at the Qixi Festival banquet, something unexpected happened, and I couldn't find an opportunity. I didn't expect it would be delayed until I met you here."'

No wonder the servants of the Princess's mansion had taken special care of her when she went to the Qixi Festival banquet. No wonder Prince Wei had said that Princess Changhe had practically watched him grow up.

As for the name Consort Chen, Wushuang had only heard that Emperor Qianwu's birth mother was called Consort Chen, but nothing else. It seemed everyone was tight-lipped about this person. She hadn't expected Princess Changhe to be on good terms with Prince Wei's birth mother.

However, even if Wushuang was curious about Consort Chen in her heart, she couldn't very well ask Princess Changhe.

'"His Highness also told this concubine that his aunt watched him grow up, and he often went to the villa to play when he was young."'

'"He even told you that?"' Princess Changhe asked in surprise.

He had indeed said it, but that one sentence had come from two different people.

Wushuang then recounted the time at the Qixi Festival banquet when Ji Yang had taken her to the villa's kitchen to eat.

Princess Changhe listened with rapt attention, occasionally chuckling. '"He still hasn't changed his childhood nature. He was truly a little devil back then, plucking all the peacock feathers in this Majesty's villa, climbing trees to steal bird nests, and going into the lake to catch fish. Especially that time he secretly ran off to catch fish in the lake, scaring the palace servants into searching everywhere for him, and frightening me as well…"'

Wushuang listened quietly from the side. She had detected a point of suspicion.

In her previous life, Song You had told her that Ji Yang had appeared during Prince Wei's adolescence, which meant that he shouldn't have existed when Prince Wei was young. Yet, Ji Yang was very familiar with the princess's villa, not only knowing where the fun places were, but even knowing where the kitchen was. But how did he know?

She couldn't help but recall what Prince Wei had said that day—'"Why hasn't Princess Consort considered that he and I are one and the same?"'

This was really not the place to ponder these things in detail, so Wushuang temporarily put them aside. She accompanied Princess Changhe for a while longer. Princess Changhe rose to change her clothes, leaving her alone in this palace chamber.

After a while, a palace servant came to say that Princess Changhe was feeling a little tired and had gone to rest for a while, telling Wushuang not to be restrained and not to leave, as she was to be kept for dinner.

She also said that, fearing she would be bored, the Eighth Prince's Princess Consort had also been invited.

Sure enough, after a short while, Wan Chun'er was invited over.

Seeing Wushuang, Wan Chun'er was somewhat surprised, but she was an honest and shy person, and didn't ask much. She also realized that Princess Changhe had called her over because of the Third Imperial Sister-in-law, so she sensibly kept Wushuang company, talking, drinking tea, and eating snacks.

It was just a pity that she was too honest, and before long, she let something slip.

The source of the slip-up was a single sentence. If Princess Changhe hadn't come to invite her, her mother-in-law, Pure Consort Zhou, would certainly not have allowed her to come out.

The statement actually had two layers of meaning. Pure Consort Zhou was either preventing her from going out because of the snow, or she was preventing her from associating with Wushuang, and that was why she wouldn't let her out.

At this moment, Wan Chun'er also realized she had misspoke and hurriedly explained, "Although Mother Consort tells me to interact less with Third Sister-in-law, I truly like Third Sister-in-law very much in my heart."

Very well, there was no need to guess now; it was because Pure Consort Zhou didn't want her associating with Wushuang.

That day, Pure Consort Zhou's unusual behavior was seen and noted by Wushuang. Afterwards, she asked Prince Wei about it. Prince Wei didn't say anything else, only that Pure Consort Zhou was timid and afraid of trouble, and that she could associate with the Eighth Prince's Princess Consort.

Since association was permitted, and considering Prince Duan's favor with Emperor Qianwu in her previous life, the Eighth Prince was clearly a member of Prince Wei's faction. But the son was one way, so why was the mother consort another?

Could it really be because she was timid and afraid of trouble?

Wan Chun'er's small face flushed red with anxiety, and she stammered, "Actually, Mother Consort doesn't really have any objections to Third Sister-in-law, she just..."

"She just thinks I have too much trouble surrounding me and is afraid of implicating you?"

Wan Chun'er neither admitted nor denied it, "Actually, I am also implicating Third Sister-in-law. Mother Consort has never liked me." After saying that, she revealed a dim and dejected expression.

Wushuang recalled an incident she had heard about in her previous life. In her previous life, because Prince Duan was deeply trusted by Emperor Qianwu, he inevitably rose in prominence. Whether in the imperial court or in the capital, he was a figure of great influence, so naturally, some matters concerning the Prince Duan's mansion were known to outsiders.

In her previous life, Prince Duan's Princess Consort rarely appeared in public. On the contrary, a Secondary Consort surnamed Li in Prince Duan's mansion was very prominent. Not only was Prince Duan's eldest son born to her, but it was said that she also managed the internal affairs of Prince Duan's mansion.

The reason Wushuang knew about this was because a Censor had impeached Prince Duan for doting on his concubine and neglecting his wife. She had overheard it at the time, and knew nothing else.

When she first met Wan Chun'er, she had thought of this matter, but since the Eighth Prince had not yet taken a secondary consort, she hadn't thought much about it. Now that she thought about it, the 'Prince Duan's Princess Consort being unloved' had early signs.

"Why would Pure Consort Zhou dislike you?"

Logically speaking, Wushuang shouldn't be asking these things, but seeing her delicate and small, and so well-behaved and docile, and how she had stayed with her when all the Princess Consorts were making things difficult for her that day, and if Pure Consort Zhou hadn't spoken up in the end, she probably wouldn't have left, she couldn't help but feel pity for her.

Wan Chun'er hesitated slightly, looking around.

Beside them were only Linglong, Meifang, Xiaohong, and others; there were no servants from Zhilan Yard.

"Don't be afraid, they are all people who serve me intimately."

Seeing this, Wan Chun'er's tears streamed down her face in an instant.

Later, after her stumbling and fragmented explanation, Mei Wushuang finally understood what had happened.

Wan Chun'er's origins were not high; her father was merely a fourth-rank official, and the Wan family itself had no real foundation, just an ordinary family of officials.

In principle, such an origin would not be suitable for a Prince's Consort. Pure Consort Zhou, although fearful of trouble, was not foolish. When her son was to marry, and later establish his own residence outside the palace, naturally the more powerful the maternal family, the better.

Especially when compared to the maternal families of Prince Jin, Prince Qin, and Prince Zhao, Pure Consort Zhou felt even more strongly that the Eighth Prince should marry the daughter of a powerful noble or a prominent family. Yet, Emperor Taihe had chosen Wan Chun'er, the daughter of a minor official.

Pure Consort Zhou dared not protest to Emperor Taihe, and so she vented her temper on her daughter-in-law.

Relying on the fact that there was no Empress in the palace, and that she was Wan Chun'er's mother-in-law, and furthermore, that the Eighth Prince had not yet left the palace to establish his own residence, she ordered Wan Chun'er to attend her palace daily to learn the rules, and even after arriving at the villa, it was still the same.

Otherwise, if Wan Chun'er were not living with Pure Consort Zhou, how could her mother-in-law prevent her from coming out? It was precisely because she was not by the Eighth Prince's side, but instead at Pure Consort Zhou's place.

Clearly, they were a newly married couple, and should be in the midst of a honeymoon period, yet Pure Consort Zhou acted as a stumbling block.

The reason Wan Chun'er had previously taken the initiative to speak with Mei Wushuang was because she had heard that Prince Wei and the Princess Consort Wei had a very good relationship, and that Prince Wei doted on his newlywed wife. This caused her to feel envious, and she could not help but want to get closer to Mei Wushuang.

She simply wanted to know why, when they were all newly married couples, her Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law were so loving, while she had ended up like this.

Wan Chun'er was the same age as Wushuang, but Wushuang, priding herself on having lived two lives, considered herself more mature and steady than the former.

Seeing her weeping so bitterly, she couldn't help but feel a pang of pity.

The little girl was crying so hard; she must have felt terribly wronged. She didn't consider that she was, in fact, also a little girl, yet she held a handkerchief, acting like an adult, wiping away tears and comforting the other. Linglong, watching from the side, had laughter sparkling in her eyes, though she restrained it on her face.

"Doesn't your Eighth Imperial Brother help you?"

Wan Chun'er sniffled, "He doesn't manage these things. Consort Shu is, after all, my mother-in-law, and I wouldn't dare say anything."

Indeed, how could a daughter-in-law find fault with her mother-in-law? Moreover, Wan Chun'er was of humble birth and had married into the palace as a royal daughter-in-law; she certainly wouldn't dare say anything.

"Third Sister-in-law, I see you and His Highness Prince Wei are so loving. Could you possibly teach me?" She was likely truly desperate, grasping Wushuang's hand as she spoke, tears welling up again. "I accidentally overheard Consort Shu and the palace maids around her saying that, after the New Year, she would ask Father Emperor to bestow a Secondary Consort upon His Highness. I…"

Wushuang felt a bit awkward, stammering, "How did you even see that Prince Wei and I are loving?"

Even she hadn't felt it. Where had she seen it?

Even Prince Jin, Prince Qin, and their Princess Consorts were constantly saying how loving Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law were. She knew those were just barbs, but now that Wan Chun'er was saying it too, Wushuang couldn't help but feel curious.

"That day, His Highness Prince Wei embraced you, riding back together. It must be because you are extremely loving that he would do so. Also, that day you and Prince Wei strolled in the snow together; I actually saw it, but I didn't dare to go forward and speak with Third Sister-in-law."

Wan Chun'er's eyes held unconcealed envy as she said, "I saw His Highness Prince Wei holding an umbrella for you, and the umbrella was tilted mostly towards your side. He, however, allowed his clothes to be stained with snow, yet he didn't seem to notice. Also, Third Sister-in-law, you seem to not watch the road when you walk, but His Highness Prince Wei carefully encircled you, helping you avoid puddles and stones..."

"His Highness Prince Wei is truly good to Third Sister-in-law!"

She wasn't not watching the road; she was lost in thought!

Wushuang, greatly embarrassed, quickly said, "Alright, alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Let's talk about the Secondary Consort."

Wan Chun'er was amused by her embarrassed appearance and couldn't help but giggle.

Wushuang, suppressing her blush, said, "You and Eighth Imperial Brother haven't been married for long. How could they be in such a hurry to take a Secondary Consort?"

At the mention of this, the smile vanished from Wan Chun'er's face. "Mother Consort seems to have taken a liking to the legitimate daughter of the Li family of Marquis Anle, and wants to ask Father Emperor to bestow her upon His Highness as a Secondary Consort."

The surname was Li. This matched up again.

Wushuang thought for a moment and said, "After thinking about it, since you don't dare to protest to Pure Consort, you can only think of a way to deal with Eighth Imperial Brother. You might as well tell him about it and also share your own thoughts."

'"But if I were to oppose Your Highness taking a Secondary Consort, wouldn't that be violating the Seven Grounds for Divorce?"'

Seeing Wan Chun'er, Mei Wushuang instantly thought of her past self, bound tightly by those rules and regulations, those so-called virtues and conduct for women.

Clearly, Pure Consort Zhou, disliking her daughter-in-law, wanted to find another wife for her son, yet Wan Chun'er was still worried about violating the rule against jealousy. Just like her past life, when she was brought into the palace, it was the Worthy Consort who wanted to deal with the Empress, instigating her mother-in-law, Chen shi. Chen shi knew the cause and effect, yet still loathed and hated her, even losing control once and cursing her for violating womanly virtues, being licentious and shameless.

How laughable a matter, yet it existed in reality.

'"Moreover, I don't dare to,"' Wan Chun'er added.

'"You and the Eighth Imperial Brother are husband and wife, what is there to be afraid of in speaking to him?"'

Wan Chun'er twisted her handkerchief, her small face flushed red. '"I just don't dare, I..."'

At this moment, someone arrived from Zhilan Pavilion, a palace servant, saying that Princess Changhe had already prepared a banquet and invited Wushuang and Wan Chun'er to partake.

Only then did Wushuang realize that, unknowingly, it had already grown dark.

The details of the banquet need not be mentioned. By the time they finished, it was already you shi (5-7 PM). Wushuang originally wanted to return, but who knew that Princess Changhe would smilingly keep her, not saying what for, but simply having her and Wan Chun'er return to the same palace chamber as before.

It wasn't until Wushuang heard a commotion outside, and a guard came to report that there was an assassination attempt, saying that the assassin had broken into Yuhua Hall, and His Majesty had specially sent people to protect Her Highness the Princess, also saying that after failing to break into Yuhua Hall, they had attacked Yuxiang Pavilion, that she understood Princess Changhe's intention in calling her here.

No wonder Prince Wei hadn't had anyone call her back; it was likely that her coming here was also his arrangement.