That evening, after the Minister of Justice returned home, he was met with his wife’s cold glare.
Miss Wang didn’t come to the dinner table either, hiding in her room.
It was only when he asked that he learned what had happened that day.
Madam Wang’s eyes were red as she spoke sorrowfully, “At today’s full-month banquet, the Heng Princess Consort was clearly being deliberately difficult. She hasn’t even entered the residence yet. If she truly married in, how could she live her days in peace?”
Sitting beside her, Young Master Wang pampered his sister and said gently, “The Heng Princess Consort is the daughter of the Minister of Revenue, matching my sister’s status. One as principal consort, one as secondary—my sister was already at a disadvantage, and now she’s being bullied. Father, I think we should call off this marriage.”
Master Wang glared. “What do you understand? Among the three princes in the court, the eldest is most likely to inherit the throne. If this marriage succeeds, your sister would become an imperial consort, and our Wang family would rise with her.”
“As long as I remain in the Minister of Justice’s position, the Heng Prince will not mistreat Shu Yao.”
Madam Wang, fighting back tears, retorted, “Even if the Princess Consort is favored in the rear palace, she cannot allow a secondary to overshadow the principal. Our Shu Yao is gentle and talented; she would be head of any household she married into. Yet, Father, you risk her entire life for political connections with the Heng Prince.”
Madam Wang had only one son and one daughter. Seeing today’s events unfold before her eyes, she could do nothing to help.
If her daughter were to suffer in the Heng Residence later, the thought alone caused her pain.
Master Wang, looking at his wife’s tearful accusations, remained silent. His son said nothing, and the daughter’s position was still vacant, leaving him frustrated.
Li Junche, upon learning that Wen Jinhe had not suffered any loss and had even angered his brother’s two princess consorts, couldn’t help but laugh.
“That’s her nature.”
Murong Nie commented as if watching a drama, “Your Highness, will the Minister of Justice still marry his daughter to the Heng Prince as a secondary consort?”
Li Junche’s knowledge of Minister Wang came mostly from Song Zhiyuan.
Song had praised his direct superior highly.
Setting aside the struggle for the throne, Li Junche had no complaints about the Minister of Justice.
Li Junche pondered, “It depends on whether the Minister values his daughter more, or his ambition for power.”
Murong Nie’s eyes shifted. “Your Highness, the Heng Prince and the Lin Prince both seek to use women to secure influence in court. You only have one princess consort in your rear palace. Shouldn’t you also take secondary consorts or concubines?”
Marriage alliances were one of the best ways to consolidate power.
Especially since Li Junche was less favored, he needed more support from court factions to compete with others.
Li Junche put down his pen and stared at Murong Nie. “A true man should have the world in his heart. If I need to use women to obtain the throne, then I am unworthy of ruling.”
He genuinely despised the actions of Li Yuheng and Li Zhilin and would never imitate them.
Murong Nie lowered his head in apology. “It was my mistake to speak out of turn.”
The prince, at twenty-six, had not yet married. He intended to establish his career before starting a family, believing that women would slow him down. Murong Nie had momentarily forgotten this.
If not for the emperor’s arranged marriage, Li Junche would not marry before ascending the throne.
In the rear palace, Wen Jinhe was listening to Man Qiu’s report.
The newly purchased servants had finished training and were ready to be dispatched.
Wen Jinhe thought for a moment and said, “Assign the five literate accountants to two shops, the rubber workshop, the northern farmland, and the blacksmith’s forge. Monthly accounts must be clear and precise.”
“The tavern needs to be renovated according to this blueprint. Arrange the shelves on the open floor; keep it simple.”
Wen Jinhe was preparing to bring all the modern delicacies over.
Although the Wang Mansion’s chefs were skilled enough, the menu was limited day to day.
Without some of the essential seasonings, the dishes could never reach their full potential.
Once the vegetables, grains, and spices in the fields were ready, the tavern would be fully supplied.
The next morning at court, the emperor mentioned a certain criminal case, and the Minister of Justice stepped forward to respond.
After court, Li Yuheng called the Minister aside, wanting to discuss their prior conversation.
However, he found the Minister’s attitude somewhat evasive.
So he changed the topic: “Soon it will be Her Majesty’s birthday. She wishes for Miss Wang to pay her respects.”
Immediately, alarm bells rang in the Minister’s mind; a cold sweat broke out across his back.
After last night’s dinner, he had gone to his daughter’s room, where mother and daughter had cried for hours. His eyes still hadn’t fully recovered.
“Thanks to the Empress’ kindness, my mother will travel from her hometown tomorrow to help arrange my younger daughter’s marriage. Once everything is settled, we will invite Your Highness and the Princess Consort to celebrate.”
Master Wang told his daughter that since she didn’t want to marry the Heng Prince, the marriage needed to be arranged as soon as possible.
Unexpectedly, early the next morning, Madam Wang said she would bring her mother-in-law from the countryside to help find a suitable match for her daughter—clearly determined to prevent her daughter from marrying Li Yuheng.
Hearing this, Li Yuheng furrowed his brow, a hint of doubt in his eyes.
He had repeatedly hinted that he wanted to take Wang Shuyao as a secondary consort, and the Minister of Justice had not openly refused.
Sending Shuyao to see the Empress was meant to finalize the marriage—but now they were going back on their word?
The Minister lowered his head and cupped his hands. “I have official duties. If the Prince has nothing else, I shall take my leave.”
From the Minister’s tone, Li Yuheng immediately knew something had changed. He said calmly, “Minister Wang, you have many responsibilities. Take care of your health as well.”
After leaving the palace, Li Yuheng immediately sent someone to investigate why the Minister had changed his mind.
Was it Li Junche?
Or had Li Zhilin interfered behind the scenes?
When the report came back, it turned out that the Heng Princess Consort had deliberately sabotaged Wang Shuyao at yesterday’s full-month banquet.
Because of this, the Wang family didn’t dare marry their daughter into the Heng Residence, fearing further mistreatment.
Li Yuheng’s face darkened with rage, and he smashed the teacup beside him.
Voices of his furious reprimand echoed through the rear courtyard of the Heng Mansion. The servants outside all kept their heads low, afraid of being implicated.
When the elderly Madam Wang arrived at the residence with Shuyao to attend the noble feasts, everyone realized:
The marriage between the Minister of Justice’s daughter and the Heng Prince was officially ruined.
The girl’s family was already eager to find another match.
Murong Nie, upon hearing the news, laughed loudly in Li Junche’s study. “I didn’t expect Minister Wang to be so decisive. Ruining that marriage is a good thing for us. The Princess Consort handled it brilliantly.”
In recent days, many families had sent invitations to Wen Jinhe, but she had refused them all.
Those events were purely spectacles, wasting time and exhausting her.
Li Junche recalled Song Zhiyuan’s praise of Wen Jinhe. After Yang Shi returned home, she had also complimented the Princess Consort in front of Song Zhiyuan. Eventually, this reached Li Junche’s ears.
“She’s clever and quick to react. Upon realizing Yang Shi’s identity, she knew to win her favor. She anticipated Li Yuheng’s intentions and didn’t hesitate to intervene immediately.”
Such actions clearly signaled that Wen Jinhe was aligned with him and was even willing to assist where she could.