Yan Nangui's blunt statement about her being favored made Xia Fengyi feel somewhat embarrassed.
"I am but a lowly concubine, with no family background and no special skills. Your Highness has only shown me mercy for a short time."
Yan Nangui glanced at her a few times and said nothing more.
The reason she invited Xia Fengyi out for a walk was because this was, after all, an imperial palace, not her own residence. Having more people meant less trouble.
It wasn't about opening up to Xia Fengyi.
Xia Fengyi, being a smart person, didn't dwell on it.
She also knew that even if two people could get along well, they might not necessarily become friends in the future.
In any case, she certainly wouldn't be like Ding Zhaoxun, who would act recklessly just because she's been favored, and Yan Liangyuan is clearly not the kind of person who would make things difficult for you just because you're favored.
After that, the two of them just strolled around without saying anything more.
Soon, news of Yan Liangyuan's rude remarks to Madam Jin spread.
It didn't take long for the news to reach Consort Su's ears.
Su Liangdi sighed: "That's her confidence."
"It's just recklessness. It seems like it's directed at Madam Jin, but the Imperial Concubine is also present. What if we anger the Imperial Concubine?"
"You're still too naive. Do you really think Yan Shi is brainless? That she'll offend anyone just because she's a little favored?" Su Liangdi shook her head.
"Ah? Could it be that there's a deeper meaning to this? This servant doesn't understand," Fu'er said.
“It’s understandable. His Majesty didn’t want the Crown Prince to stay in the capital, but now that he’s here, His Highness is still the Crown Prince. He can’t be completely overshadowed.” Consort Su thought for a moment and continued, “Yesterday, General Yan came to pay his respects. Logically and morally, since Consort Yan has come, he should see her. No matter how His Majesty considers it, he should let them meet.”
"But Consort Yan is His Highness the Crown Prince's woman..."
Fu'er still didn't quite understand, but she didn't ask any more questions.
Consort Su continued, "No matter how unwilling His Majesty may be, he has no choice but to accept it now. But the court officials and soldiers who came with him all saw it. General Yan's eldest daughter is His Highness the Crown Prince's concubine, who will become a concubine in the future."
She had some things left unsaid. She was born and raised on the frontier, and she knew this very well.
The soldiers on the frontier first recognized their general, then their emperor.
Their generals were renowned for their military exploits, and their generals held the highest positions in the court...
Their general's daughter is the crown prince's woman.
Whose hearts are they on?
Yesterday, General Yan met with Yan Nangui, and today Yan Nangui went out and had sex with the Second Prince's concubine.
Is this really a coincidence?
Where are the coincidences in this royal affair?
She was merely helping the Crown Prince; she deliberately stepped forward, appearing reckless, immature, and arrogant...
It's nothing more than telling everyone that Yan Lingyun is her father.
The Second Prince has been interested for quite some time now.
It's not that he lacks support, but the Crown Prince is the rightful heir. Ultimately... deposing the Crown Prince is no simple matter.
Your Majesty has had this idea for many years, but it has been too difficult to make it happen.
Perhaps, now that things have come to this, His Majesty understands just how brilliant the Empress's desperate gamble last year was in sending Lady Yan into the palace.
General Yan may not be able to take sides, but that doesn't matter.
Some people in the court might include this bargaining chip in the Crown Prince's camp.
“There will always be a place for Yan Nangui in this backyard. She is a very intelligent woman,” Su Liangdi said.
Fu'er nodded: "Yes, this servant remembers."
That evening, the Crown Prince indeed went to Yan Nangui's place again.
He smiled whenever he saw her.
Yan Nangui smiled and asked, "Has the date for Your Highness's inspection tour been set?"
"Not yet. But I can take you out for a walk tomorrow," Shu Chengfeng said.
"Hmm... Tomorrow? Then I'll have to ask Your Highness." Yan Nangui sat on his lap: "Has Your Highness arranged any activities for tomorrow? If there's anything involving blood, I won't go."
"Riding horses and hunting, you, a daughter of a military family, shouldn't be afraid, right?" Shu Chengfeng winked deliberately.
“Your Highness…” Yan Nangui reached out and poked him on the face.
Shu Chengfeng laughed and grabbed her hand: "Don't worry, there won't be any bloodshed now."
Yan Nangui smiled and raised an eyebrow: "So it really is true?"
"No rush. It's not time yet," Shu Chengfeng said with a smile.
Among the princes, even the favored ones didn't have the strength to truly confront him head-on.
To attempt an assassination now would be too hasty.
Although everyone is fighting, it's not yet time for them to reveal their true intentions.
Therefore, he wouldn't arrange for his own assassination. It's too early.
Yan Nangui smiled and didn't say anything more about it.
Shu Chengfeng put his arm around her and said, "Today, Consort Yan is quite impressive."
"My majesty is all thanks to Your Highness's majesty. If Your Highness becomes even more majestic in the future, I will become even more majestic too," Yan Nangui said with a smile.
Shu Chengfeng was clearly in a good mood and laughed loudly again.
The next day, the Crown Prince and the princes all came to pay their respects at Shu Zhongjing's palace.
After the routine greetings, the second prince suddenly said, "There's nothing important to do today, but I'd like to tell Father and my brothers something casual."
"These women in the inner quarters are such a hassle. Last night, my wife, Madam Jin, and my concubine, Madam Wang, both came to me crying, saying they had offended His Highness the Crown Prince's concubines... It gave me a real headache. What's going on?"
The Crown Prince smiled and said, "Second Brother, are you here to gossip or to interrogate me? If you're talking about gossip, I really don't know what happened. I usually don't concern myself with the trivial matters between the women in the inner quarters."
"But if my second brother questions me, then I will go back and ask him."
"Oh, what are you saying? You are His Highness the Crown Prince. I am just a prince, how dare I question you?" The Second Prince smiled: "But this Consort Yan, as expected of a daughter of a military family and a consort of His Highness the Crown Prince, truly has a good temper."
"Second Brother, don't concern yourself with these matters. It's just gossip among the women." The Third Prince chuckled and smoothed things over. "To argue about it would make us seem uncouth."
Shu Zhongjing then said, "General Yan's eldest daughter is not as gentle as her father."
"When I return to the capital, I will instruct the Crown Princess to discipline him properly," Shu Chengfeng said.
That was a perfectly watertight statement.
He certainly wouldn't tell His Majesty that he would discipline them.
He should certainly discipline his wife, but when he says he will discipline his concubines, it means he is showing them affection.
The deeper the love, the greater the criticism.
The Second Prince brought this up simply to warn His Majesty whether General Yan might side with the Crown Prince.
However, the existence of Yan Liangyuan is already a fact.
Although Shu Zhongjing was unhappy, he couldn't do anything about it on the surface.
Of course, he couldn't openly do anything to Yan Nangui; his empire was naturally inseparable from Yan Lingyun.
At least for now, I can't live without it.
So he could only wave his hand and refuse to listen to the Second Prince talk about these unpleasant things anymore.
The second prince was not disappointed. He believed that perseverance would eventually work, and he didn't expect to influence His Majesty with just a few words.
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