Immediately after, she feigned an expression as if she had said something wrong.
"Sister, I didn’t mean it. I was just worried about you…"
Seeing the Empress Dowager and the Empress both darken their expressions.
Mu Anran’s gaze turned cold. This Mu Anfu truly couldn’t go a moment without courting disaster.
She fixed a sharp glare on Mu Anfu.
"Second Sister, it is rather strange that I should encounter you here in the palace for morning greetings. Since I have married His Highness the Crown Prince, as a member of the royal family, it is only proper for me to come to the palace to pay my respects to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager and Her Majesty the Empress.
But you, Second Sister, are merely a concubine-born daughter of the Mu family. What are you doing in the palace? As the legitimate daughter of the Mu family, I was unaware that you had married into the royal family!"
Mu Anfu had not expected Mu Anran to remain so unflustered, even going so far as to adopt the air of an elder sister to reprimand her.
"Eldest Sister…"
But Mu Anran cut her off directly.
"Second Sister, our mother at home has always treated all of us children with kindness. She has never mistreated concubine-born daughters in the slightest; instead, she has allowed you, Second Sister, to enjoy the privileges of a legitimate daughter.
Father has also doted on you since childhood. As a daughter of the Mu family, when you speak such wild and reckless words, shouldn’t you consider the reputation of the family behind you?
Before my marriage, I did have the fortune to meet His Highness Prince Rong a few times. Prince Rong is a royal prince. When we, as subjects, encounter him, it is only natural to step forward, greet him, and pay our respects.
How is it that in your words, Second Sister, paying respects to a prince and exchanging a few words has become something shameful? By that logic, there are likely few noble ladies in Xuanyuan City who have not paid their respects to His Highness Prince Rong, for who would dare show disrespect to the royal family?"
Mu Anfu had not expected Mu Anran to be so sharp-tongued. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Mu Anran already bowing to the Empress Dowager seated in the main position.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, Second Sister and her birth mother are deeply favored by Father, and Mother is kind-hearted by nature. Second Sister has been spoiled to the point of lacking proper etiquette, which has made Her Majesty the Empress Dowager and all the ladies present laugh.
When Anran returns home, I will certainly suggest to Mother that we hire a governess to provide Second Sister with additional guidance, lest she speak out of turn in the future!"
Upon witnessing this, the expressions of everyone present toward Mu Anfu shifted subtly. Indeed, a concubine-born daughter was just that—unfit for the grand stage.
Seeing this, Mu Anfu glanced pleadingly at Consort Lan.
Consort Lan cast a sidelong glance at Mu Anfu, also looking down on her. Still, she was, after all, a daughter of Chengxiangfu. Having her son take her in would still serve to win over Chengxiangfu.
"Taizi Fei is indeed sharp-tongued! Bengong finds Second Miss Mu gentle and lovely, so Bengong invited her to the palace to keep Bengong company and relieve boredom. Bengong is quite fond of Second Miss Mu; she hardly seems as lacking in etiquette as Taizi Fei claims!"
Mu Anran smiled and performed a half-bow to Consort Lan.
"It is Second Sister’s good fortune to be able to relieve Consort Lan’s boredom. Consort Lan is truly blessed to lead such a leisurely and comfortable life, which makes this subject’s daughter quite envious.
As for Her Majesty the Empress, she is busy managing the affairs of the six palaces. Before my marriage, I never had the chance to meet Her Majesty the Empress! Second Sister, you should spend more time keeping Consort Lan company. After all, you have nothing to do at home. Coming to chat with Consort Lan and relieve her boredom is truly your good fortune!"
Consort Lan had not expected Mu Anran to be so bold as to dare mock her for not being the Empress Consort. Yet, her words were flawlessly crafted, leaving no room for criticism!
With a darkened expression, she turned her gaze toward the Empress.
"Empress, your choice of daughter-in-law truly makes this concubine see her in a new light. However, no matter what, I am still her elder. Is this how Taizi Fei speaks to her elders? Shouldn't the Empress discipline her?"
The Empress didn't understand why Mu Anran had suddenly changed her temperament, but since her son insisted on marrying her, she couldn't undermine her own son's dignity.
Maintaining the dignity of the central palace, she looked at Consort Lan.
"Consort Lan, you said she is Bengong's daughter-in-law, not yours. Bengong isn't anxious, so why is Consort Lan in such a hurry? Besides, Anran hasn't said anything wrong. Bengong can't just reprimand her own daughter-in-law without distinguishing right from wrong!"
Upon hearing this, Consort Lan's expression grew even colder.
Seeing the situation, Mu Anfu hurriedly spoke up.
"Empress, you may not know this! Elder sister previously had a marriage arrangement with the Crown Prince, yet she repeatedly followed Prince Rong around and even sent him many gifts! However, Prince Rong didn't like elder sister, and every gift she sent was thrown away.
Today, when I saw elder sister coming alone to pay respects, I was worried that she and the Crown Prince might have conflicts because of this, so I wanted to show some concern for her. After all, those are all things of the past. Now that elder sister has entered Taizi Fu, she will surely live well with the Crown Prince."
The fact that the designated Taizi Fei had pursued Prince Rong was something Consort Lan had bragged about countless times in the palace. The Empress Dowager and the Empress had naturally heard of it.
Seeing the Empress's face darken completely, Mu Anran felt somewhat panicked—this was all the trouble she had caused in the past!
"I didn't expect Second Sister to know so much about Prince Rong's affairs. Does Prince Rong tell Second Sister about every gift he receives? Then Prince Rong and Second Sister must have a very close relationship!
However, I've never heard that Second Sister is engaged to Prince Rong. Could it be that you and Prince Rong have already pledged yourselves to each other in secret?"
Mu Anfu didn't expect Mu Anran to avoid the topic and repeatedly drag her into the mess.
"Mu Anran, dare you say you never sent gifts to Prince Rong? Dare you say you never admired Prince Rong?"
Hearing this, Mu Anran felt that Mu Anfu had gone mad, daring to tear off all pretenses like this. If the Mu family's daughters were known to linger among the princes, wouldn't her reckless entanglement implicate the entire Mu family?
"Second Sister, Prince Rong is exceptionally talented. Those in Xuan Yuan Imperial City who admire him probably line up from the east to the west of the city.
Many men, women, young, and old have sent him gifts. Even if I sent a small gift to express my admiration for Prince Rong, it's not some heinous crime.
As for what you call admiration, that doesn't exist. Since ancient times, marriages have been arranged by parents and matchmakers. As a lady from a respectable family, talking about admiration or lack thereof is rather laughable."
Unwilling to let Mu Anran evade the issue, Mu Anfu looked at her.
"Elder sister, you keep saying Prince Rong is exceptionally talented and that you admire him. Then, I wonder what position the Crown Prince holds in elder sister's heart? I'm extremely curious."
Seeing Mu Anfu's determination to press the matter and tear off all pretenses, Mu Anran smiled.
"In my life, I admire many people: His Majesty the Emperor for his skillful governance of the country, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager for her battlefield heroism in her youth, proving that women are no less capable than men, and Her Majesty the Empress for managing the rear palace in an orderly manner."
There is also my father, Prime Minister Mu, who has been loyal to the court all his life, as well as the great generals who have guarded the borderlands and devoted their lives to military service, and the scholars who have dedicated themselves to teaching and nurturing others. Yet, I hold no admiration for the Crown Prince.