Upon hearing that she was to enter the palace immediately, Chen Qiuyan's face darkened. Her personal nanny, Granny Wu, was holding the Third Prince's eldest daughter, a little princess nicknamed Mingjie, and looked at Chen Qiuyan with a worried expression.
Seeing Wu Mama's expression, Chen Qiuyan smiled and said, "Mama, what are you doing? I'm just going to the palace."
The palace staff had already gone outside to wait. Granny Wu glanced at the courtyard gate and whispered, "I wonder how they'll treat you if I send you."
Chen Qiuyan said nonchalantly, "No matter how much she teases me, it's just a matter of a few words. She can't hit or punish me. If she says something unpleasant, I'll just pretend I didn't hear it."
Granny Wu shook her head and said, "What a tragedy! How could there be such a person?"
Chen Qiuyan said calmly, "Granny, be quiet."
When Granny Wu heard her daughter's words, her eyes immediately reddened. The adorable little girl in her arms used her chubby little hands to wipe Granny Wu's eyes. Granny Wu quickly raised her sleeve and wiped her own eyes, saying, "Look at me, I'm getting senile."
Chen Qiuyan took the little girl from her arms and said with a smile, "Ming'er, Mother has to go to the palace for some business. Why don't you stay at home with Granny and Sister Qingxing?"
Ming'er smiled, revealing two dimples at the corners of her mouth, kissed Chen Qiuyan's cheek, and said, "Mother, Ming'er will be waiting for you to come home tomorrow."
Chen Qiuyan went back to her room to change her clothes, and together with another personal maid, Hongtao, she rode in a carriage and followed the people from Consort Wan's palace into the palace.
After paying her respects to Consort Wan, Consort Wan did not let Chen Qiuyan sit down. She picked up the covered bowl, stirred the tea leaves inside, but did not drink from it. Then she put the covered bowl on the table.
Chen Qiuyan stood silently in front of Consort Wan with her head down. Consort Wan was even angrier when she saw her daughter-in-law's demeanor. She and Chen Qiuyan were mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, and she would have to rely on her son and Chen Qiuyan's husband to make a living in the future. However, Chen Qiuyan was always indifferent to her husband's affairs. It was one thing if she couldn't help her husband, but she couldn't even help with some things.
Consort Wan had already spoken to Chen Qiuyan, both openly and subtly, suggesting that she take a look at the girls from noble families and bring the suitable ones into the household. Those from good families could be given the position of concubine, while those from poor families or who were illegitimate daughters could be given the position of maidservant. She pointed out that the Mingguo Duke's family had taken the initiative to send their illegitimate daughter to the Third Prince's residence.
Chen Qiuyan has always looked down on these kinds of things. She has seen very clearly that Emperor Liang Cheng has a very good grasp of the Liang Dynasty. Not to mention that Emperor Liang Cheng is in his prime and in good health now, even if Emperor Liang Cheng is old and frail and needs to choose a successor, her man will not be among Emperor Liang Cheng's choices.
Chen Qiuyan only understood these things after being enlightened by her father, Chen Yuanfeng. Although Chen Yuanfeng's family had fallen on hard times, he had served as a study companion to several princes in his childhood. He knew Liang Chengdi, a prince who was not well-known at the time, very well. He also understood Liang Chengdi's intention in betrothing his eldest daughter to the third prince. One reason was that he wanted to become in-laws with his children, and at that time, the third prince was the only suitable candidate. Another reason was that he wanted his daughter to properly advise the third prince. Liang Chengdi trusted the character of the daughter that Chen Yuanfeng had personally raised.
Consort Wan suppressed her anger and said, "Qiuyan, you still need to care about Yao'er's matter. Look at your household, there are only two children, both girls. We need to have more children. When you go back, find out which girls are of marriageable age and bring them into the household."
Consort Wan then began to talk about how good so-and-so's daughters were, and how fertile so-and-so's daughters were. Chen Qiuyan listened quietly to Consort Wan, her thoughts wandering elsewhere. When Consort Wan stopped, Chen Qiuyan curtsied and said, "What Mother Consort says is true."
When Consort Wan heard Chen Qiuyan say those words, she felt a lump in her throat. She wanted to lash out at Chen Qiuyan, but she also felt that many things needed Chen Qiuyan's intervention and she couldn't easily get angry with her. She was so uncomfortable that she could only wave her hand at Chen Qiuyan. Upon seeing this, Chen Qiuyan bowed and walked out with Hongtao.
When Consort Wan saw Chen Qiuyan's retreating figure, she angrily swept the covered bowl next to her to the ground.
The crisp sound of porcelain shattering made Chen Qiuyan pause slightly, but she didn't turn around and continued walking forward.
The servants attending to Consort Wan quickly stepped forward. Consort Wan covered her chest with a handkerchief, wanting to vent her anger, but not wanting Chen Qiuyan to see it. In the end, she was so angry that she lay on the bed and couldn't get up.
Chen Qiuyan led Hongtao out of Consort Wan's palace gate. Seeing that no one was around, Hongtao said worriedly in a low voice, "Your Highness, is it alright if we just leave like this?"
Chen Qiuyan's expression turned slightly cold as she said, "It's nothing, don't worry about it."
Not far from the palace gate of Consort Wan, they saw Chen Wufu with two eunuchs, each carrying a tray.
Chen Qiuyan gave Chen Wufu a curtsy, and Chen Wufu quickly returned the gesture, saying, "I dare not accept such a compliment."
Chen Wufu said, "When His Majesty heard that the Third Imperial Consort had entered the palace, he remembered that he had acquired some fun things a few days ago and wanted to give them to Princess Ming to take back and play with. So he sent this old servant to deliver them to the Third Imperial Consort."
Chen Qiuyan quickly thanked him, and Chen Wufu turned around and invited Chen Qiuyan to walk towards the palace gate, saying, "His Majesty said that the Third Imperial Concubine should take good care of Princess Ming."
Chen Wufu escorted Chen Qiuyan all the way to her carriage outside the palace gate. Only after watching Chen Qiuyan's carriage drive away did he lead the two eunuchs back.
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