Seeing that they didn't say anything, Qin Wan didn't ask any more questions. She picked up the tea and took a sip slowly.

Several ladies lowered their heads and communicated with their eyes.

Do you need to say more? The Crown Princess has already agreed. Wouldn't it be rude to say more?

But if I don’t say it, what if the Crown Princess is just being polite?

Yes, she agreed on the surface, but turned around and cried and made a fuss when facing the prince, and refused to let her participate in the selection. What should she do?

Several people were undecided and their eyes fell on the old princess and Princess An.

Amidst their anticipation, the old princess asked, "The Crown Princess was injured earlier. I wonder if this is causing her difficulty in having children? Please put aside your palace duties, take care of your health, and raise children for the Crown Prince."

Princess An also said: "That's right, a woman should put offspring first. Palace affairs can be handed over to others, but offspring must not be taken care of."

What the two old princesses said was very pertinent, at least much better than what these ladies said.

Qin Wan's smile was more sincere. "Thank you for your concern. The imperial physician has checked my pulse and everything is fine. It's just that our destiny hasn't arrived yet."

The two old princesses looked at each other and sighed. If both of them were in good health but couldn't conceive, then it would be difficult to persuade them any further. Having children depended on fate.

They have seen examples before where a couple has been married for ten or eight years but has no children, and then divorces and remarries and has children and grandchildren of their own. It really means they are not destined to be together.

Qin Wan chatted with the two old princesses about family matters with a pleasant expression, then turned to Madam Sun and the others and asked, "Madams, do you have anything else to say?"

The ladies looked at each other and shook their heads. If the Crown Princess agreed, just agree. Don't say too much, otherwise she will hold a grudge against you later.

Qin Wan then said, "Then everyone please leave."

The old princess and Princess An stood up to say goodbye, and the others also stood up to say goodbye and left.

After leaving the East Palace, they couldn't help but discuss:

"Do you think the Crown Princess is sweet on the outside but bitter on the inside, or does she really want the Crown Prince to take a concubine?"

Madam Meng looked at them and smiled, "We'll just complete the mission our husband has assigned us. Why are you so concerned? Or do you intend to offend the Crown Prince as well?"

Madam Sun and others opened their mouths, not knowing how to respond. Who would dare to offend the Crown Princess?

"But offspring is a big deal." Madam Sun couldn't help but mutter.

Madam Meng smiled and said, "The Crown Princess and the Crown Prince are still young. Are you still worried about them not having children? Men can submit petitions to the court, but we women should focus on the inner chambers and stay out of other matters."

For every word Madam Sun said, Madam Meng could retort ten times. She really had nothing to say and just walked away.

On the other side, Xie Qing returned to the East Palace and saw the thick stack of memorials in Qin Wan's hand.

Xie Qing picked up one and took a look at it curiously: "What is this?"

Qin Wan looked at him jokingly: "Of course it's the list of candidates for the talent show. It was just delivered and is fresh and hot."

Xie Qing threw away the memorial, lifted his skirt and sat down beside Qin Wan, frowning: "We promised them a talent show, why did they bring this up in front of you?"

Qin Wan tilted her head, looking at him with a half-smile, and said, "How could they let such a big deal go just because you refused? No sooner had you gone to court than the ladies of state sent their greetings to the palace, and they even brought two old princesses with them as lobbyists. I nodded in agreement, and the list of candidates was delivered to my desk in the blink of an eye. What does this mean? They were well prepared and wouldn't let you say no."

Xie Qing's focus wasn't on the court officials' determination to force him to select a concubine. His only concern was, "You agreed? You actually agreed?"

Qin Wan nodded, not quite understanding why he seemed a little angry. "Of course I agreed. They looked like they would kneel down and die if I didn't agree, so of course I agreed without hesitation. They seemed a little unhappy that I agreed so readily."

Qin Wan was a little proud when she said this: "Look at their expressions, it's quite interesting. I don't know who compiled this memorial, but there are some from famous ladies in various families. Take a look."

As Qin Wan spoke, she picked up a memorial and handed it to Xie Qing. The preparations for this selection were rushed, so only some wealthy young ladies in the capital participated. The reason why there were so many memorials was because they had small portraits of the young ladies on them.

Xie Qing cleared the paper away and looked at Qin Wan, who seemed to be enjoying the show, with a serious face: "You seem quite happy?"

Qin Wan nodded: "Shouldn't I be happy? Seeing those people get humiliated, shouldn't I be happy?"

Xie Qing pointed at the letter on the table and asked her, "Do you really want me to have another woman?"

Seeing that he didn't want to read it, Qin Wan casually tossed the memorial aside and chuckled, "Does my word determine whether you want to add someone to your harem? If I say so, will you stop taking concubines? Will you let them stop writing letters and force you to participate in the selection?"

Qin Wan was telling the truth, but Xie Qing was unhappy: "Don't you care about me? Are you just thinking of giving me away?"

Qin Wan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She didn't quite understand his logic, and she also felt that Xie Qing didn't understand what she meant. She stroked Xie Qing's hand and said softly, "I can control your body, but I can't control your heart. If your heart is not with me, what's the point of me keeping you?"

"Who would be willing to see her husband spending time with another woman? Who would be willing to see her husband being affectionate with another woman? But..."

She paused and said, "If you and I were an ordinary couple and we had a quarrel, I might still be willful and cry and make a scene with you, or even threaten to hang myself. But you are the Crown Prince and I am the Crown Princess. Our status is destined. I can't cry and make a scene, or even commit suicide, and you can't do whatever you want either."

Xie Qing grasped the key words from her words: "Tell me, if I were with another woman, would you cry, make a scene, or even hang yourself?"

Qin Wan nodded hesitantly in his expectant gaze: "But our identities don't allow it, I..."

Xie Qing raised his hand to interrupt her. After letting Zigui and the others leave, he looked at Qin Wan expectantly, "Now that there's no one else around, no one will know even if you start a fight with me. Come show me your ability to cry, make a scene, and then hang yourself."

Qin Wan raised her hand and twisted his arm in annoyance: "Why are you different from the people around you?"

Xie Qing subconsciously dodged: "Why are you still twisting me?"

Qin Wan glared at him and reached out again. She really wanted to pinch him. Why was this man so shameless? "Didn't you say you'd cry, make a scene, and then hang yourself? I promised to do it, and you're not happy?"

Xie Qing hid and refused to be twisted: "Then you can't twist people either."

Qin Wan sneered: "What? First cry, then make a fuss, then hang yourself. I won't cry, just make a fuss and that's not enough? Will you give it to me or not?"