Even if she was shameless, after Zhao Shu left the capital, Consort Zhang arranged for people to pack their things and prepare to leave the Yong Prince's residence. Zhao Nihong looked a little dejected and walked up to Consort Zhang, pouting, "Mother, when will Father go to the Wei family again?"
In front of her daughter, Consort Zhang forced a smile, "Mother's daughter will take care of herself, Mother can rest assured."
Upon hearing Consort Zhang's words, Zhao Nihong felt a sudden pang of panic. "What are you saying, Mother? I don't need you to make plans for me. What do I know about making plans?"
Consort Zhang smiled weakly, "Nihong has grown up and knows how to say nice things to coax her mother." After a trip to the capital, it seemed that everything had changed, and her heart was becoming more and more weary. If only everything could still be like it was before she came to the capital. At that time, even though she was getting old, the prince would still come to see her often. No matter how many concubines there were in the mansion, no matter how difficult the principal wife made things for her, the prince would always help her. At that time, she and the prince were like a real couple.
I regret it. I regret coming to the capital. If I hadn't come, perhaps nothing would have changed.
Zhao Nihong looked at Consort Zhang with a mixture of doubt and worry, then took Consort Zhang's arm and continued to act coquettishly, saying some lighthearted things, "Mother, Zhao Shu has finally left the capital. It would be best if she found a country cook to marry in the countryside and never came back to the capital. But with her gone, there won't be so many jokes to watch."
"Tell your mother, do you prefer the second young master of the Wei family or Mr. Huo?" Consort Zhang straightened Zhao Nihong and asked her seriously.
Zhao Nihong shyly turned her head away, two blushes rising on her cheeks. She awkwardly said, "Mother... I will listen to you." Her voice was very low. Actually, she wanted to say that she liked both of them. The second young master of the Wei family and Mr. Huo were both very good-looking. The second young master of the Wei family would make her happy, and Mr. Huo's smile always warmed her heart.
If Mr. Huo hadn't gone to Guanzhou, she would definitely have chosen him first. Unfortunately, Mr. Huo went to Guanzhou with her and doesn't know when he will return. She is also getting older and probably can't wait.
Consort Zhang could see through her thoughts, but she did not stop her. Which young girl doesn't yearn for love? In the prime of her youth, how can she know what it means to be moved or what love is? She might just be attracted to someone's appearance or family background. By the time she truly understands what emotions and marriage are, she will already be old.
"Alright, Mother will send someone to invite the Wei family to propose marriage in a few days. But, Ni Hong, the Zhang family's young master is also quite good. You can become the head mistress of the household right after you marry into the family. Is it really necessary to marry a young master from a prestigious family?" What did she gain from being a concubine in this life? Looking back on her life, it was all unbearable. She really doesn't want her daughter to follow in her footsteps. Ni Hong is only born out of wedlock. How could a super-powerful family like the Wei family possibly marry her as their principal wife?
Zhao Nihong was too shy to notice the sorrow on Consort Zhang's face. "Mother, haven't you and Father been a loving couple for decades? What about me? For decades, Mother hasn't even dared to raise her voice to you. Besides, the sons of noble families are always better than those nouveau riche. They are polite, refined, and skilled in poetry, calligraphy, painting, music, chess, and other arts. They are true scholars. Mother, don't you often say that being a daughter-in-law of a noble family is the only way to make my life in the royal family worthwhile?"
“Alright, you are my daughter. I will do anything to help my daughter fulfill her wish. The young master of the noble family is elegant, and my daughter is beautiful. We are worthy of him.” She lovingly stroked Zhao Nihong’s face, her words seeming to come from the heavens, distant and sorrowful.
Zhao Nihong stared blankly at her absent-minded mother, feeling as if a huge rock was stuck in her chest, unable to utter a word.
As evening fell, Consort Zhang left Prince Yong's residence with the people from Prince Duan's mansion. Zhao Changyan busied himself taking care of Consort Zhang and her daughter, as well as Wei Ji, who was leaving with them. Wei Ji's identity was still that of a singing girl, but everyone knew that she was now Prince Duan's woman, so everyone was polite but distant. She sat alone and nervously in the carriage, accompanied by Yin Yuan, a maid sent by Zhao Changyan to take care of her.
"You heard those rumors, didn't you?" Wei Ji said lazily, rubbing her calloused hands from playing the pipa.
Yin Yuan lowered her head and straightened Wei Ji's scattered clothes, then whispered, "I heard you. What do you plan to do, Miss?"
"Hmph, what to do? We'll just have to see how it goes." Wei Ji coldly stared at the swaying carriage curtain, her face frosty. "Princess, I hope you keep your word."
After leaving the palace, Prince Duan went straight back to his residence. As soon as he entered, he felt extremely uncomfortable with the expressions of the servants, but he couldn't quite put his finger on why. The memory of that night filled him with irritation.
He directly summoned a servant to see Wei Ji, and then went to the study in the main courtyard. He had not returned to the capital for many years, and the current Prince Duan's mansion was actually less than a third the size of Prince Yong's mansion. He quickly arrived at the study, where Wei Ji followed.
A servant followed him. The servant was extremely handsome, though slightly effeminate. His captivating eyes glanced at Prince Duan briefly before he lowered his head. His beautiful hands were long, slender, and fair, even more beautiful than a woman's hands.
For some reason, Prince Duan recalled those hands from that night; they seemed just as beautiful.
"This servant greets Your Highness." Wei Ji curtsied slightly, her voice as melodious as an oriole singing in the willows.
"Play a lullaby for me." At this moment, Prince Yong was completely unable to appreciate Wei Ji's beauty and charm; his mind was filled with images that he found shameful yet couldn't help but conjure up.
Wei Ji didn't mind. She simply sat down properly and began to play the pipa. She didn't sing, but just played quietly.
When people discover something new, they can't help but explore it again and again. This is curiosity. Prince Duan was driven by curiosity at this time. Although he was in a daze that night, he felt completely comfortable and he did not forget it.
However, a shameful act is only shameful when it is known to others. When no one knows, who will know that it is shameful?
Unbeknownst to him, Prince Duan's eyes were fixed on the servant's hands. They were so beautiful, so slender, so delicate...
The autumn night was slightly cool. Ruyi, having received Zhang Concubine's order, dressed herself up in newly acquired clothes. In the evening, she even took a petal bath to arouse men, leaving her smelling wonderful.
She carried a tray with a small porcelain bowl on it containing light porridge, as the prince did not like to eat anything too greasy at night, something she always remembered.
The gatekeeper, having also received Consort Zhang's instructions, had gone to the restroom. She gently knocked on the door, and Prince Duan's voice came from inside, "Who is it?"
"Your Highness, it is your servant Ruyi. The Consort sent me to bring you a midnight snack." Ruyi suppressed her excitement and tried to keep her voice calm. Although there were those bad rumors, as long as tonight passed, she would be the prince, she would rise to the top and become a phoenix, and she would no longer have to be a servant. She didn't care whether the prince had homosexual tendencies or not.
Upon hearing the name Consort Zhang, Prince Duan instinctively frowned, but since Consort Zhang was needed to manage everything inside and outside the capital, and the Prince's residence also needed the assistance of the Marquis of Huainan, he said, "Come in."
Ruyi gently pushed open the door and went inside. As she entered the room, a cool breeze blew in, carrying with it a fragrant aroma. A surge of heat burst forth from Prince Duan's body.
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