Chapter 122 Consort Shu's Arrangements

Seeing his son enter with a serious expression, he lowered his head and continued reading his storybook, asking calmly:

"You've come to talk about Wei Ningyan, haven't you? Don't worry, I've already taken care of it for you."

Xiao Ling was taken aback.

"I've had someone inform Consort Shu about this. If she doesn't deal with Wei Ningyan, I'll take action."

Xiao Ling breathed a sigh of relief and bowed to the Princess, saying, "Thank you, Mother."

"Hey, no need to thank me."

If you two hadn't gotten married before, I would have been happy to see it happen.

If she continues like this now, then it would be her fault.

Xiao Ling nodded, and then said:

"I've never liked her, as you know."

The eldest princess put down her book and looked at Xiao Ling with a leisurely air, asking:

Why do you look down on her?

"Too many schemes, and the methods used are underhanded."

Xiao Ling said as she found a chair and sat down.

The eldest princess laughed and said, "Alas, that's exactly what I liked about her in the first place."

Xiao Ling turned to look at her, puzzled.

"Oh dear, you're a man, you don't understand. Only someone like her can survive long in the inner quarters."

After saying that, she sighed again: "It's not that I don't know her methods are underhanded, but of all the noble ladies in the capital, she's the only one who has any tricks up her sleeve."

Don't you know our family's situation?

"If you marry someone who lacks foresight and cunning, you might not even know how you died."

Xiao Ling listened thoughtfully, then lowered his head and muttered to himself:

"No wonder she refused to marry me... The inner quarters... are truly... complicated..."

The eldest princess frowned and asked, "What did you say?"

"Oh, it's nothing. Then why did you take a fancy to Qin Yingying? She doesn't seem very smart."

As the saying goes, one force can overcome ten techniques.

Qin Yingying usually takes direct action when something happens, just like the Ninth Lady of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.

Look at her today at the Xie residence, where she went on a killing spree, immediately intimidating everyone in the mansion.

The Xie family will probably be quiet for a while now.

Xiao Ling nodded.

Seeing this, the eldest princess smiled and said, "However, I am now even more satisfied with the wife you have found."

The fact that they could devise countermeasures for the complex situation in the North speaks volumes.

And aren't there rumors circulating on the street that she's not good-looking?

When I saw her that day, she was lying weakly in bed and looked rather haggard, but that did not diminish her beauty and elegance.

It is clear that she deliberately concealed her talents at Yongning's birthday celebration.

That's good. Knowing when to advance and when to retreat, having a well-thought-out plan—that's what suits our royal family.

Xiao Ling was delighted to hear this.

But still feeling apprehensive about what Xie Yunman had told him, he continued speaking to the Princess:

“Mother, you can guard against it for a while, but you can’t guard against it forever. We still need to consider the matter of the Crown Prince’s consort carefully.”

The eldest princess waved her hand dismissively and said:

"Don't worry about that."

No matter how Consort Shu treats her, I will suggest that His Majesty send her to reunite with the First Prince.

Xiao Ling nodded and said, "That's good."

Meanwhile, back in the palace, Consort Shu was trembling with anger after receiving the message from the Princess.

Even after calming down, I still felt a surge of anger.

During dinner, the maids made a small mistake, and Consort Shu got so angry that she smashed a whole table of food.

Everyone in Yong'an Palace was so frightened that they dared not breathe.

Consort Shu's personal maid stepped forward to comfort her:

"Your Majesty, the matter of the First Prince's Consort is actually quite easy to resolve."

Consort Shu was leaning back in her chair, rubbing her forehead. Upon hearing this, she opened her eyes and looked at him questioningly.

The old nanny stepped forward and continued to massage Consort Shu's temples.

"If newlyweds live apart for a long time, people will say that Your Majesty is not benevolent enough."

Upon hearing this, Consort Shu sighed deeply:

"I originally thought that if Lin'er went to his fiefdom, Wei Ningyan and I could stay and help him out."

But now it seems that she doesn't take me seriously at all, nor does she help Lin'er.

She still has the mind to think about other men.

"So let the young couple reunite," the old woman continued.

"In addition, it's time to bring in a capable concubine to the First Prince's residence to help him manage affairs."

Consort Shu nodded in agreement: "That's what I thought too. Who do you think would be suitable, Granny?"

"This servant thinks Your Highness's niece would be a good match?"

“Yuan’er? No, she’s too soft-hearted.” Consort Shu shook her head.

“No, it’s Sixth Miss,” the nanny continued.

“Pingting? But she’s born out of wedlock, her status isn’t high enough.” Consort Shu asked in surprise.

The old woman continued, "It's because she was born out of wedlock."

She struggled in the inner quarters of the Shen family since childhood, witnessing the scheming and coldness of human relationships, before finally gaining the approval of the lady of the house.

Such an experience suggests that he must have used many underhanded tactics to be able to fight against the Crown Prince's wife.

In addition, her status was low, so she could just enter the mansion as a concubine and not take up a spot as a secondary consort.

If she can give birth to a son or daughter through her own abilities and is obedient, she will be promoted to a concubine.

In this way, she can keep the Crown Prince's wife in check within the inner quarters.

Secondly, her surname is Shen, and if she wants to gain a foothold in the First Prince's residence, she must rely on Your Majesty.

Furthermore, her loyalty to the First Prince is unparalleled, so she will not experience a situation like Wei Ningyan's.

Consort Shu nodded.

In the afternoon, the Shen family received the news, which greatly surprised everyone in the household.

Shen Pingting's father was Shen Yi, the elder brother of Consort Shu. Her mother was a maid who swept the floor after Shen Yi got drunk, and she was born.

After her mother gave birth to her, she was not favored by Shen Yi and was relegated to the lowest-ranking concubine in the household.

As a result, Shen Pingting's childhood was very difficult; she ate and lived no differently than a servant.

The child is five or six years old and still doesn't have a name.

Shen Pingting's name was given to her when she was six years old, after the old lady noticed that she looked quite similar to Consort Shu.

Only after that did Shen Pingting catch Shen Yi's eye.

In order to ensure her mother could live a better life, Shen Pinting acted subserviently and foolishly in front of Madam Shen for many years.

She faced numerous attacks from the concubines, sisters, and even Madam Shen, narrowly escaping death several times before finally carving out a path to establish herself in the inner quarters of the household.

However, her weakness was also obvious: her sickly aunt.

At this moment, Shen Pingting listened to her father's oral instruction and sat in the room, lost in thought.

After a while, he raised his head and chuckled.

"The way out is actually the First Prince's residence, which is really unexpected."

Seeing this, the maid Dongcao said timidly:

"Miss, what does Consort Shu mean?"

"She wants me to become the eldest prince's concubine."

"A concubine? Miss...didn't you say you wouldn't become a concubine?"

After a long pause, Shen Pingting finally murmured, "When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. I'm afraid I have no choice in the matter."

"Miss, we have worked so hard to finally get the madam's approval to let you marry and become her principal wife."

Now that Consort Shu has interfered...sigh...

What should we do?

Winter Grass stamped her feet anxiously.

The two were talking when they heard someone outside report:

"Sixth Miss, Aunt Qiu is not well. Master requests your presence."

Upon hearing this, Shen Pingting stood up and ran outside.

When they arrived at Aunt Qiu's room, they found that Shen Yi and the First Madam were both there.

Shen Pinting suddenly stopped in her tracks.

She knew she was right; what was bound to happen had finally arrived.

Shen Yi rarely showed a smile.

"Pingting is here."

Shen Pingting stepped forward and respectfully bowed to the two people and Aunt Qiu, who was lying on the couch.

"I have met my father, mother, and aunt."

"No need for formalities," Shen Yi said with a smile.

"I have summoned you here today because Consort Shu has sent word home that she wants you to serve the First Prince."

If you agree, your aunt will move to Fangfei Garden, and your mother and I will take good care of her.

Consort Shu would also send imperial physicians to treat her.

Upon hearing that the imperial physicians would be summoned to treat her, Shen Pingting was quite tempted.