After the Crown Princess left, Nanny Fan, who served closely by the Empress’s side, sighed with dissatisfaction, “Your Majesty, you are too indulgent toward the Crown Princess.”
Upon hearing this, the Empress slowly opened her eyes, furrowed her brows, and said regretfully, “Back then, His Majesty said he would select a noble lady from a prestigious family for Yu’er. Mr. Wenchuan is of noble character and upright family traditions. I only thought that his granddaughter, having been taught by him since childhood, would surely be gentle, virtuous, and reasonable…”
The Crown Princess’s father, Li Cheng, the Imperial Censor, is a man of loyal and upright character. Her mother comes from the Wenguogong Manor, which, although lacking military power, has always produced officials who entered the court through literary achievements, which would also be beneficial.
That was why she was chosen.
“Who would have thought the Crown Princess would turn out to have such a temperament?”
“The Donggong has few heirs, which is already unstable, and it is surrounded by wolves and tigers. As the Crown Princess, instead of thinking about helping the Crown Prince stabilize the Donggong’s position, she only focuses on the trivial matters of the inner courtyard.”
“If it weren’t for her jealousy, the Sun Zhaoxun I bestowed back then wouldn’t have miscarried, and the Crown Prince wouldn’t have become estranged from her!”
“And she still thinks she’s the smartest, treating everyone else as fools,” the Empress mocked.
“Your Majesty, please calm your anger. The Crown Princess does not understand your good intentions; it is her misfortune.”
The Empress sighed, her tone cold, “I hope she will be wiser this time.”
If she dares to lay hands on the Crown Prince’s heirs again, she should not blame her.
“Your Majesty has rewarded Chu Liangdi several times, and your words have been both admonishing and comforting. The Crown Princess should understand.”
Although Nanny Fan said this, she also felt anger toward the Crown Princess. If it weren’t for the Empress’s kindness—having experienced the pain of being separated from her own flesh and blood and not wanting others to suffer the same—what would be wrong with directly bringing the little prince to Kunning Palace to raise him?
The little prince is now one year and five months old, nearly three years old by traditional reckoning, and the Empress has only seen him twice. What grandmother cannot see her grandson? Yet, of all people, Her Majesty has encountered such a narrow-minded daughter-in-law.
If the Crown Princess’s mother-in-law were not Her Majesty but another high-ranking consort skilled in sinister schemes, she would have long been dealt with in ways unimaginable.
“I hope she truly understands,” the Empress pressed her temples. “By the way, a while ago, when I was not in good health, I noticed yesterday that among the beauties selected for the Crown Prince, one originally chosen was crossed out, and Consort Lan selected Lady Shen’s younger sister instead?”
Nanny Fan bowed and replied, “Your Majesty, it was indeed Consort Lan’s doing. She deliberately delayed the time, bypassed you, and directly submitted the list to His Majesty.”
The Empress was not surprised. If Consort Lan didn’t stir up trouble, she would find it odd. However, selecting Lady Shen’s younger sister was clearly a move to make the Crown Prince unhappy, and she knew it was Consort Lan’s deliberate act.
But compared to the disgust, the Emperor’s attitude angered her even more.
After finishing his duties at Shenshi (around 3–5 p.m.), Cui Yu, dressed in his crimson official robe, left the Jingzhao Prefecture office and boarded the Donggong carriage.
In the Dayong Dynasty, besides studying and attending court to listen to political affairs, the Crown Prince also served as the Prefect of Jingzhao, which was another way to assess his ability to handle government affairs.
Zheng Yuande, who was attending to him, saw that his master’s expression was calm and unreadable, yet he couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief.
Having served his master for many years, he could still discern a thing or two. Ever since the Cavalry General was reprimanded by His Majesty and stripped of his title as Zhenguo Army Jiedushi, his master had rarely been in such a calm state of mind.
During this morning’s court session, contrary to his expectations—he had thought the Crown Prince would likely argue and plead for the Cavalry General again, only to be scolded by His Majesty—the Crown Prince surprisingly did not defend the Cavalry General as he usually would.
Cui Yu closed his eyes to rest, then suddenly lifted his gaze and said, “Speak if you have something to say.” His voice was clear and steady.
Zheng Yuande, wearing a plump, smiling face, flattered, “Your Highness truly has divine foresight. Even with your eyes closed, you could tell that this servant is filled with doubts.”
Cui Yu glanced at him.
Zheng Yuande dared not act coy any longer and chuckled, “This servant was originally worried about Your Highness, but unexpectedly, His Majesty praised Your Highness in court. When I saw the Fourth Prince and the other princes leaving the court with sullen expressions, it gave me immense satisfaction.”
Let those princes who deliberately approached Your Highness with sarcastic remarks after His Majesty reprimanded you now be the ones seething with anger, now that Your Highness has been praised by His Majesty!
Cui Yu lowered his gaze, his voice deep and inscrutable, “Arguing is pointless.”
What does it matter even if one wins the argument?
When an emperor harbors suspicion toward a minister whose achievements overshadow his own, the right or wrong of the matter no longer holds importance.
It was just that he could not accept how the military honors and glory his maternal uncle had earned by defending the border and shedding blood in battle were stripped away so frivolously, as if it were a child’s play.
He felt indignant and aggrieved for his maternal uncle and the soldiers defending Dayong.
But his position as Crown Prince, combined with the military achievements his maternal uncle had earned, had already made his father wary. If taking a step back could ease some of his father’s suspicion and guard, it might bring greater safety to his grandfather and maternal uncle.
If so, there was no need to argue over temporary gains or losses.
However, as soon as he returned to Donggong, Cui Yu heard Cao Zhongda, the eunuch in charge of the front hall, whisper a few words of report. Zheng Yuande’s expression changed slightly, and he couldn’t help but complain inwardly. He wondered what the Crown Princess was thinking—how dare she defy the Empress openly while pretending compliance? Her audacity was truly excessive.
After listening, Cui Yu’s expression remained unchanged, showing no discernible reaction, but a hint of coldness flickered in his originally calm eyes.
“Your Highness, please heed this old servant’s advice. When you go to pay respects to Her Majesty the Empress in the latter part of the month, let us bring the young prince along, shall we?” Nanny Zhou pleaded earnestly in a low voice.
The Crown Princess looked displeased, her heart even more troubled. “Nanny, did you not see how Her Majesty deliberately made things difficult for me today? She implied in every way that the Crown Prince’s lack of heirs is all my fault, all my wrongdoing—blaming me for not bearing His Highness a healthy son!”
Since childhood, she had been the most outstanding among her sisters, and the husband she married was the most noble Crown Prince in the world. Yet, she had given birth to a sickly son, making her unable to hold her head high before Her Majesty and everyone else.
Nanny Zhou naturally felt for the bitterness in the heart of the young lady she had nursed, but now that she was a member of the imperial family, she could no longer act willfully as before.
She comforted, “Your Highness, set your mind at ease. The young prince is currently the only son of His Highness the Crown Prince. No one can surpass our young prince.”
“If our little prince could win the Empress’s affection and favor, it would only bring benefits, not harm, to both us and the child. Why must Your Highness contend with the Empress over this momentary pride? If His Highness finds out, it will only damage the marital bond between you.”
The Crown Princess’s expression shifted slightly.
As they were speaking, familiar movements could be heard from outside.
The Crown Princess quickly adjusted her attire and makeup, stepping forward to greet and pay respects.
Cui Yu slowly came to a stop before her, lowering his gaze to her face. After a moment, he finally spoke, allowing her to rise.
Once seated on the Luohan bed, the Crown Princess promptly ordered hot tea to be prepared and personally presented it, her voice gentle and smiling: “Has Your Highness just returned from duty? Though Your Highness is now burdened with numerous affairs of state, you must still take care of your health. Do not overexert yourself and harm your well-being.”
Cui Yu looked up at her gentle smile, his tone slightly somber: “No need.”
The Crown Princess smiled and placed the teacup on a nearby side table, then asked with a smile: “Would Your Highness like to have a meal served now?”
“No need,” he replied, turning his gaze to Nanny Zhou beside him. “Where is Zhang’er?”
Hearing this, the Crown Princess’s smile grew more genuine, and she quickly turned to give orders: “Bring Zhang’er here at once.”
Nanny Zhou was naturally pleased that the Crown Prince cared for their little prince. After the wet nurse carried the swaddled child forward to pay respects, she bowed respectfully and presented the little prince to the Crown Prince.
Cui Yu glanced at the child, who still had its eyes closed, and instructed the wet nurse to take him back, careful not to wake him.
Casually, he asked: “I recall that yesterday, the Crown Princess mentioned that Zhang’er’s health has improved significantly recently?”
The Crown Princess felt a slight chill in her heart, her fingers unconsciously tightening around her handkerchief. “Your Highness, the physician said that although Zhang’er’s health has improved somewhat recently, he still needs quiet recuperation and must avoid exposure to drafts.”
“Oh? Is that so?” Cui Yu idly rubbed the black jade ring on his thumb. “As it happens, I have summoned the Chief Physician. Someone, invite Chief Physician Lu to examine Zhang’er and check his pulse.”
Zheng Yuande: “Yes, Your Highness.”
The Crown Princess’s expression stiffened slightly, and she quickly added: “Your Highness, Physician Zhang has always been the one to check Zhang’er’s pulse. Would it not be better to summon Physician Zhang instead? He is more familiar with Zhang’er’s condition.”
Cui Yu replied calmly: “Since Chief Physician Lu holds the position of Chief Physician, his medical skills are certainly no less than Physician Zhang’s.”
The Crown Princess’s expression tightened, and she lowered her head to conceal it. The Crown Prince had inquired about the child’s condition every few days, and initially, she had no reason to suspect anything. But now…
In just a moment, Zheng Yuande returned with an elderly man whose hair and beard were graying, dressed in the official robes of the Chief Physician.
After paying respects, Chief Physician Lu reported: “Your Highness, Crown Princess, although the little prince’s constitution is slightly weaker than that of other infants his age, with proper care as he grows, he should eventually be no different from ordinary people.”
Cui Yu: “Can he withstand being moved now?”
“As long as curtains are hung around the little prince’s sedan chair, there should be no issue.”
“Thank you, Chief Physician Lu.”
After Zheng Yuande escorted the physician out, he had just reentered when he heard the Crown Prince’s calm, unemotional voice: “Someone, bring the sedan chair.”
The Crown Princess’s heart grew cold and heavy. It must have been the Empress who sent someone to speak with His Highness, prompting him to act immediately upon returning from duty!
How utterly detestable!
Zheng Yuande smoothly turned and went out again, utterly perplexed by the Crown Princess’s behavior, which could almost be described as blatantly disregarding Her Majesty the Empress.
Her Majesty’s illness was neither a common cold nor a contagious disease, so where did the Crown Princess find the courage to repeatedly challenge the Empress’s authority?
Nanny Zhou immediately knelt down, kowtowed, and pleaded, “Your Highness, please be magnanimous. Her Ladyship was simply too worried about the young prince’s health, which is why she didn’t bring him to see Her Majesty the Empress today. Just now, Her Ladyship told this old servant that she plans to pay respects to Her Majesty in the latter part of the month. By then, the young prince will likely have fully recovered, and she will bring him for Her Majesty to see in detail.”
Cui Yu glanced sideways at the Crown Princess, his voice slightly cold. “Oh? Is that so?”
The Crown Princess’s face was stiff and pale. After a long pause, she bit her lip, curtsied, and bowed her head. “Yes, that was indeed my plan. However, causing Her Majesty worry during her illness shows my lack of consideration. I beg Your Highness for forgiveness.”
Cui Yu slowly stood up, looking down at her expression. After a moment, his voice deepened. “Her Majesty has been planning tirelessly for us. Zhang’er is my legitimate eldest son. Do not disappoint Her Majesty’s efforts.”
Upon hearing this, the Crown Princess felt even more resentful. Planning? The Empress only has the Crown Prince as her son. Isn’t it only natural for her to plan for him? Didn’t her own father and brothers also scheme for the Crown Prince in court?
As for efforts? She couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. Efforts that repeatedly favored Chu Liangdi at the expense of her, the Crown Princess’s dignity?
Such efforts, she could hardly bear.
But no matter what she thought in her heart, she temporarily swallowed her grievances on the surface.
The disappointment in Cui Yu’s eyes vanished in an instant, his dark pupils calm and unruffled. Without another word, he turned and left.