Empress Gu was actually personally taught by her grandfather. She was a virtuous and upright person. Although she was depressed because of her own son, she truly loved her cousin's child.

Granny Huang said, "Your Highness, I heard that the medical skills of the Chen family were inherited by the third mistress who married into the Yongning Marquis's mansion. Back then, the Chen family was persecuted and fled to the south. Before leaving, they married their only daughter into the Yongning Marquis's mansion. I heard that the dowry included medical records and pulse diagnosis records accumulated by the Chen family over several generations. The medical skills of this aunt of the Chen family are truly beyond question."

Empress Gu nodded and said, "I hope Aqing can be cured of her illness."

In Consort Wan's palace, upon hearing that Emperor Liang Cheng had returned to the Imperial Study after having dinner in the Empress's palace, Consort Wan sneered, flicked her beautifully manicured nails, and said to an old nanny standing to the side with her head bowed in service, "That Gu Lianxin is as cunning as ever. She clearly cares a lot about the Emperor, but she insists on putting on a magnanimous act. I can't stand her. She has no ability whatsoever; she's just relying on that old hag, the Empress Dowager."

The old nanny glanced at the doorway and whispered, "Your Highness, be careful, the walls may be overheard."

Consort Wan said nonchalantly, "What do I have to worry about? Do you think I don't know what's happening in the harem every day? Granny, you're just too cautious."

The old nanny replied expressionlessly, "Your Highness, it's always better to be safe than sorry. Some things are better left unsaid."

Consort Wan pursed her lips dismissively, then asked, "How is the one in the Cold Palace doing lately?"

The old nanny replied, "I heard that Consort Liu is ill, but she hasn't had a doctor examined by the imperial physician. I heard she's just enduring the illness."

Upon hearing this, Consort Wan's already sharp features became even sharper. She gave a cold laugh and said, "Gu Lianxin herself is useless, and she brought in another cousin. Isn't she still useless? Granny, since the one in the Cold Palace is already useless, let's just leave her alone. Isn't she someone who can endure? Let her endure it."

The old nanny replied in a low voice, thought for a moment, and said, "Our people were only recently infiltrated. As for the events before the Cold Palace, we haven't investigated them clearly yet. We heard that Consort Liu once gave birth to a child, but our people have never seen him."

Upon hearing this, Consort Wan seemed to remember something and said, "Didn't Consort Shu send someone to Yanmen Pass with one of Chen Wufu's apprentices? Find someone to inquire and see what they were doing at Yanmen Pass with Chen Wufu's apprentice. I have a feeling there's something going on here."

The old nanny agreed, and Consort Wan continued, "What has Yao'er been busy with lately?"

The old nanny replied calmly, "The Third Prince has been working at the Ministry of Personnel recently, and I heard that some of the things he has done have even earned the Emperor's praise."

Consort Wan's expression softened considerably, but then she frowned again and said, "First it was the Xu family of the Yongning Marquis's mansion, then the Feng family. They are all ungrateful families. It is their good fortune that their daughters are favored by our Third Prince. They all think they have done something perfect. Humph, just wait until the future, I will make them pay."

Hearing this, the old nanny looked up at Consort Wan, but then lowered her head again. Consort Wan said to the old nanny, "Send someone to invite the Third Prince's wife over. I need to tell her some things."

The old nanny responded softly and went out to arrange for someone to invite the Third Prince's Consort.

The Third Prince's wife was Chen Qiuyan, the legitimate daughter of Chen Yuanfeng, the Vice Minister of Rites. This marriage was not chosen by Consort Wan, but arranged by Emperor Liang Cheng.

Chen Yuanfeng, the Vice Minister of Rites, also came from a prestigious family. However, his family had declined early on. Chen Yuanfeng worked hard, passed the imperial examinations, and served in various posts in the capital for many years before returning to the capital to become the Vice Minister of Personnel. Although the Vice Minister of Rites was a third-rank official, the Ministry of Rites was not as powerful as the Ministry of Personnel, nor as lucrative as the Ministry of Revenue, nor as respected as the Ministry of War or the Ministry of Justice. It was only slightly better than the Ministry of Works.

Since Chen Qiuyan was Emperor Liang Cheng's favored daughter-in-law, she must have her merits.

Chen Yuanfeng was a very clear-headed person who acted with great calmness and rationality. His eldest daughter had followed him in his post since childhood. She had neither the spoiled air of some noble ladies in the capital nor the boldness of some daughters from the border regions. She was a clear-headed, upright, and rational person.

After careful selection, Emperor Liang Cheng chose this wife for his third prince, Xiao Yao, and bestowed the marriage upon him.

Both Consort Wan and the Third Prince opposed this marriage. Consort Wan did not value the Chen family's social standing, while the Third Prince did not value Chen Qiuyan's looks. Chen Qiuyan was already seventeen years old when Emperor Liang Cheng arranged her marriage. In this era, it was very rare for a seventeen-year-old girl not to be engaged. Originally, after Chen Qiuyan came to the capital with her father, she was often criticized because she was an older unmarried woman. However, after receiving an imperial decree, Chen Qiuyan became the most sought-after wife of the Third Prince in the capital, which truly made everyone's jaws drop.

Emperor Liang Cheng's original intention was good. He had his eye on Chen Qiuyan, but he valued Chen Yuanfeng's family background even more. His family had neither military power nor any other significant influence. The Third Prince already had many supporters because of his maternal family, so there was no need for him to gain any further advantage through marriage.

Unfortunately, Consort Wan failed to see this point. She repeatedly tried to refuse the marriage proposal from Emperor Liang Cheng, but he always managed to send her away in a neither gentle nor forceful manner. She could only vent her anger on her daughter-in-law.

After his wedding, the Third Prince lived in his residence outside the palace.

Chen Qiuyan was playing in the courtyard with her two maids and nanny, along with her two-year-old daughter, when people from the palace arrived.

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