Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuan Beichen reached out and ruffled her hair. "Let's go! Time to eat!"
Mu Anran emerged from his embrace. "Alright, I'll push you to the main hall. Let's go eat!"
However, Xuan Yuan Beichen took her hand. "Let Yan Xue handle it."
Yan Xue stepped forward resignedly to push the wheelchair, while Xuan Yuan Beichen held Mu Anran's hand, walking hand in hand toward the main hall.
Meanwhile, at Prince Rong's residence.
Xuan Yuan Haoyu couldn't understand why Mu Anran hadn't left with his men.
Mu Anfu gently and considerately poured him a cup of tea.
"Your Highness Prince Rong, please calm your anger. My sister certainly didn’t intend to marry the Crown Prince on purpose. Perhaps she just had a momentary lapse in judgment. After all, the Crown Prince is now nothing but a cripple. Anyone with sense knows what choice to make!"
Xuan Yuan Haoyu took the tea, seizing the opportunity to brush his hand against Mu Anfu's. "Fu'er is still the most considerate. Mu Anran is simply ungrateful!"
Hearing this, Mu Anfu smiled. "It is Fu'er's honor to receive Your Highness Prince Rong's praise. It's just that my sister always liked Your Highness before and even said she would marry no one else. How could she suddenly be willing to marry the Crown Prince? My sister's behavior is somewhat…"
Mu Anfu bowed to Xuan Yuan Haoyu.
"Your Highness, Fu'er never expected my sister to suddenly take a liking to someone else. Fu'er apologizes to Your Highness on her behalf!"
Xuan Yuan Haoyu stepped forward and took Mu Anfu's hand.
"This isn't Fu'er's fault. There's no need for you to blame yourself. It's all Mu Anran's ingratitude and fickleness! She falls far short compared to Fu'er. In a couple of days, I will visit Chengxiangfu to find a suitable date for the betrothal and welcome Fu'er into my household!"
Upon hearing this, Mu Anfu felt a surge of joy in her heart, but also a tinge of dissatisfaction. The word "welcome" suggested that Xuan Yuan Haoyu had no intention of making her his principal consort.
Nevertheless, she put on a happy expression and leaned into Xuan Yuan Haoyu's embrace.
"Your Highness Prince Rong, Fu'er is willing to marry you. Whether as a Ce Fei or a concubine, as long as Fu'er can stay by Your Highness's side, she will be content!"
Xuan Yuan Haoyu wrapped one arm around Mu Anfu's waist and stroked her beautiful hair with the other, feeling deeply moved.
"Fu'er, you are a good girl. Believe me, one day I will make you my principal consort, and even elevate you to a higher position. Now that the Crown Prince has fallen from grace, it is the perfect time for me to consolidate power in the court. So, for now, I can only ask you to bear with being a Ce Fei."
Leaning against Xuan Yuan Haoyu's chest, Mu Anfu spoke in a coquettish tone.
"Your Highness, Fu'er believes in you. Fu'er will always stay by Your Highness's side."
Holding Mu Anfu and gazing at her lovely face, Xuan Yuan Haoyu began to entertain some improper thoughts.
"Fu'er, tomorrow we will enter the palace to pay respects to my mother. She has always liked you and will surely be delighted to see you."
Mu Anfu replied with a smile.
"Alright, Fu'er also likes Consort Lan very much. Being able to call Her Highness 'mother' makes Fu'er extremely happy."
The next day, Xuan Yuan Beichen took Mu Anran to the palace to pay their respects, as was customary. They should have gone the day after the wedding but had been delayed.
Upon arriving at the palace, Xuan Yuan Beichen went to see the Emperor according to protocol.
Meanwhile, Mu Anran went to Cining Palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager.
Having been Empress in her previous life, she was naturally familiar with the palace. To avoid unnecessary trouble, Mu Anran skillfully led Yan Yu and Yan Xue along less-frequented paths and arrived at Cining Palace!
In the Hall of Benevolent Tranquility.
The Empress Dowager sat in the main seat.
To her left sat the Empress, and to her right sat Consort Lan.
The other imperial consorts and concubines were seated in order.
Upon entering the hall, Mu Anran discreetly glanced around and unexpectedly spotted Mu Anfu beside Consort Lan.
Heh, indeed, this venomous-hearted white lotus always enjoys lingering like a haunting spirit, stirring up disgust!
Her fists clenched tightly within her sleeves.
Mu Anfu, in this lifetime, let's see who outshines the other.
Walking gracefully and dignifiedly to the center of the hall.
She performed a formal bow.
"Your humble subject, Mu Anran, pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager and Her Majesty the Empress!"
"Greetings to all Your Highnesses."
The Empress Dowager observed Mu Anran, the legitimate daughter of the Mu family who had been betrothed to the Crown Prince. Rumors had it that she was somewhat deranged, often clinging to Xuan Yuan Haoyu. Yet, seeing her today, her demeanor seemed quite different from the rumors!
"Rise! Since you are the Empress's daughter-in-law, take a seat beside the Empress."
Mu Anran bowed first. "Yes, thank you, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, and thank you, Your Majesty the Empress!"
Then she rose and sat beside the Empress, softly calling out, "Mother Empress."
The Empress was somewhat surprised. Hadn't it been said that this eldest daughter of the Mu family was unwilling to marry? However, in such a setting, she refrained from saying more and merely nodded in acknowledgment.
Consort Lan toyed with the golden nail guards on her fingers, her voice arrogant as she spoke.
"Oh, our Taizi Fei certainly knows how to put on airs. As a royal daughter-in-law, it is a tradition set by our ancestors to pay respects in the palace the day after the wedding. Yet, for our Taizi Fei, it could be delayed by a day."
Hearing this, Mu Anran's pupils contracted slightly. It seemed Consort Lan was determined to make things difficult for her, both in her past life and this one. In her previous life, she had suffered greatly at her hands.
Just as she was about to speak, Mu Anfu interjected first.
"Consort Lan, please do not blame my elder sister. As the legitimate daughter of the family since childhood, all the best things were always given to her first. Whatever she wanted to do, Father always indulged her. She is just a bit spoiled in temperament, with no ill intentions."
Tsk, tsk, tsk, this white lotus truly knows how to put on a show. Mu Anran stood up and bowed to the Empress Dowager.
The corners of her eyes reddened slightly.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, on the day of the wedding, the Crown Prince's old battlefield injury flared up. I was deeply distressed and cared for him throughout the night. It was only by dawn that His Highness's condition stabilized.
I had originally intended to come and pay my respects, but His Highness, having endured pain all night, looked haggard. I feared Your Majesty would be heartbroken upon seeing him, so I thought it best to wait until the second day when His Highness had regained some energy before coming to pay respects. This was to avoid causing worry for Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress.
However, delaying the visit is my fault. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!"
With things put this way, the Empress Dowager naturally could say no more.
"Very well, rise. Since you have married the Crown Prince, live well with him. The Crown Prince is no longer young. You must strive to bear him an heir as soon as possible!"
Upon hearing this, Mu Anran smiled and replied, "Yes, I humbly heed Your Majesty's teachings! I will do my best!"
The consorts and concubines present exchanged varied expressions. With the Crown Prince unable to stand on his legs and his old injury flaring up on his wedding night, could he still father a child?
Mu Anfu had not expected Mu Anran to pass the test of paying respects so effortlessly.
Unwilling to let it go, she continued.
"Oh dear, sister, why didn't your husband the Crown Prince accompany you when you came to pay respects? Could it be that he's still upset about your previous matter with Prince Rong?"