Zhou Ying thought that life would be better after she married into the Prince's mansion, but after only a few days, she realized the reality.
Prince Huai's heart was not solely devoted to her. He had a queen and two concubines above him, all of whom had children. He could not neglect any of them. Furthermore, there were three concubines of the same rank ahead of her, none of whom were easy to deal with. In just a few days, she had suffered a lot of losses, both openly and secretly.
Even the servants in this mansion are not to be trifled with; some are even high-ranking female officials, and one can only treat them with respect.
She had been in the manor for five days, and Prince Huai only visited her courtyard on the second day. Keep in mind, she was newly married! Shouldn't His Highness Prince Huai spend more time with her?
However, seeing the cold and aloof look on the Prince Huai's face, she couldn't bring herself to say anything to persuade him to stay, even though she was told to get along well with the other people in the palace.
This was completely different from what she had imagined. She thought the prince had fallen in love with her, which was why he asked the empress to grant them marriage. She thought that after marriage, she would live a loving life like her father and aunt. She thought that after marrying Prince Huai, she could ask him to punish that poisonous woman, Song Xia.
But what did the prince say? He told her to get along well with Song Xia? He told her to cultivate a good relationship with the Prince Cheng's mansion?
She knew that the prince's marriage to her was partly due to the influence of the Chengjun Prince's Mansion, but at least it was because he liked her that he made this decision. However, she never expected that his liking was no match for the power and prestige of the Chengjun Prince's Mansion.
In just a few days, Zhou Ying's heart sank, and she clearly realized that, given the current situation, she had no way to touch Song Xia and the Prince Cheng's Mansion; she simply didn't have the ability to save her aunt.
She now understood why Song Xia was not afraid of her marrying Prince Huai at all, because compared to her affection for Prince Huai, it was completely insignificant in the face of the power of the Prince Cheng's mansion.
She even worried that after His Highness Prince Huai could no longer get help from the Prince Cheng's Mansion, and with the instigation of others in the mansion, would His Highness still care about that little bit of friendship?
Zhou Ying had no choice but to write a letter back home, telling her aunt to behave herself and not to anger Song Xia anymore.
Upon receiving the letter, Liu Fangniang was first shocked and saddened, then heartbroken and worried. She guessed that her daughter must have experienced something in the Prince's mansion to say such a thing to her.
At the same time, she felt utterly hopeless about the future. Was she really destined to never be able to turn her life around? Was she destined to live entirely dependent on Song Xia's whims?
In the main courtyard, Furong reported gleefully, "Madam, you were right. She fell ill after reading the letter."
Song Xia sneered: "Marrying into the royal family isn't so great, especially as a concubine. Everyone hopes to rise to the top in one step. If it were easy, wouldn't the sky be crowded with people?"
"Your wisdom is truly remarkable, Madam."
"It's not that I'm smart, it's that they haven't faced reality and haven't prepared anything for tomorrow's banquet."
Everything is ready.
"Have you sent someone to tell Zhou Yongli not to get up too late tomorrow?"
"Someone has been sent to inform them."
Song Xia didn't want to go out with Zhou Yongli either, but tomorrow was different. Tomorrow was her niece Bao Ning's coming-of-age ceremony, and only by going together could she let others know how much she valued her niece.
However, just before leaving, he saw that Zhou Yongli had brought Zhou Shuqing with him.
Seemingly afraid that she would refuse, Zhou Yongli hurriedly said, "Shuqing has some reputation in the capital now, and he happens to be free. If we don't bring him, people might gossip, since he is Baoning's cousin."
Zhou Shuqing also cupped his hands and said, "Mother, I also sincerely wish to wish my cousin Baoning well."
Since they've already said that, it would seem rather unreasonable for Song Xia to refuse.
The Prince's mansion is packed with guests today. Is Zhou Shuqing trying to make a name for himself by taking this opportunity?
Or was he trying to prove to Prince Huai that he did indeed have dealings with the Prince's residence?
Song Xia wasn't sure what he was thinking, so after getting into the carriage, she said to Zhou Yuqing, "Keep a close eye on Zhou Shuqing today."
"Would he dare to act recklessly in the Prince's residence?"
"After all, it's your cousin's coming-of-age ceremony, and I don't want any accidents to happen."
"I will be careful."
In recent years, the relationship between the brothers Zhou Yuqing and Zhou Shuqing has become increasingly distant, and they hardly speak to each other anymore.
After following his master for several years, he became increasingly puzzled as to why he had compared himself to Zhou Shuqing back then. Fortunately, his mother intervened in time, preventing him from going down a dead end.
He also disapproved of Zhou Shuqing's current actions. Just like he had been, Zhou Shuqing was willing to ruin his health to keep up with his studies. Now, for the sake of power, Zhou Shuqing had chosen to sacrifice Zhou Ying's happiness.
He couldn't easily stop them, nor could he easily comment, because what he considered worthless might be something that others found very worthwhile.
But no matter what they do, today is my cousin's coming-of-age ceremony, and I hope Zhou Shuqing is really just here to attend the banquet.
The Prince Cheng's mansion was bustling with activity today. Song Xia had arrived quite early, but was still stuck at the entrance for quite a while.
"You've finally arrived." Upon seeing her, Ye Wanrou was overjoyed, as if she had seen a savior. "Go quickly to the garden and greet them. There are few people in the mansion, and we can't keep having the nannies deal with things all the time."
Normally, it's just the few of them in the Prince's mansion, and Ye Wanrou feels that life is comfortable and there are no troubles. But whenever there is a banquet, she still feels that there should be a few more people in charge in the mansion, otherwise she really can't handle it all by herself.
Song Xia also laughed: "It will be fine once Runsheng gets married."
"I'd like to marry one as soon as possible, but what can I do if he doesn't agree?"
Song Xia thought it would be soon. Although the other party's family background was not as good as that of the Prince of Cheng's family, the girl was clever and intelligent, and there was no conflict between her and her sister-in-law.
After laughing, she turned her head and thought, Yuqing is sixteen soon, almost seventeen. Could we start looking at each other, get engaged, and then she can enter the mansion in a couple of years?
Almost all the powerful and influential people in the capital are here today; it's a perfect opportunity.
She didn't require the woman to have a good family background; she just needed the elders to be polite, the girl to be kind, and for Yuqing to like her.
Song Xia was overjoyed as she helped her sister-in-law entertain the guests, unaware that Zhou Shuqing was plotting how to get close to Song Baoning.
Zhou Shuqing had a good plan: as long as he had the chance to meet Song Baoning, he would do his best to make Song Baoning fall in love with him. But unfortunately, he and Song Baoning never even had the chance to meet.
His mother never brought him to the Prince Cheng's Mansion. In the past, when Song Baoning visited his mother, it was always when his mother went to the estate.
After waiting and waiting, this is the only opportunity I've had.
He knew that today was Song Baoning's coming-of-age ceremony, and there would definitely be many people around her, but he had no other choice.
What method should I use to make Song Baoning notice me and then insist on marrying me?
Should he let Song Baoning fall into the water in full view of everyone and then go to save her himself?
No, the Prince Cheng's mansion will definitely suspect something, and it might cost me my life.
Is she drugging him? Putting aside whether he can get his hands on Song Baoning's food, she will definitely not be without someone by her side today.
The only feasible solution at present is to let Song Baoning see his excellence and make her willingly marry him.
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