"What do you understand?" Consort Gu scolded coldly, "You are a golden branch and jade leaf, how noble is your status? If you blatantly help a Concubine's Daughter in Prince Zhan's Estate and suppress Chu Yunfei, the Imperial Consort, will outsiders think it is normal? If it reaches your Father Emperor's ears, what will he think?"
Rong Jinyue was speechless: "I..."
"If that group of old things in the Censorate finds out, will they easily let go of the opportunity to impeach this Palace?" Consort Gu's tone became increasingly cold and sharp, "They are dying to find my faults to report me to your Father Emperor!"
Rong Jinyue's complexion changed, and she dared not say another word.
Consort Gu lowered her eyes slightly, masking the cold luster in their depths: "Didn't several noblewomen in the Capital City like your Ninth Imperial Brother before? Arrange for a few gossipy people to spread the news that Rong Cang wants to divorce his wife, so that they all know."
Rong Jinyue was slightly stunned, then immediately understood her meaning.
The Ninth Imperial Brother had a good appearance, a noble status, and was the God of War of Chu. When he returned to the Capital City in triumph in the twelfth lunar month the year before last, his silver-white military uniform made him look like a god descending, causing countless women to admire him endlessly.
The streets of the Imperial City were crowded with common people, while noblewomen of noble families hid in restaurants and teahouses, quietly observing this Ninth Prince, the God of War who defended the country.
Later, for three months, countless women secretly wanted to marry the Prince Zhan as his consort, but unfortunately, none could fulfill their wish.
Because Rong Cang soon married the Legitimate daughter of the Vice Minister of Revenue's family.
Although one must consider their stance regarding marriage alliances, there are not so many thoughts when it comes to the private feelings of children; who can stop a young girl's heart from yearning?
When Chu Yunfei first married Prince Zhan, the noblewomen were dispirited and simultaneously regarded her as a love rival. Now, as long as the news that Prince Zhan intends to divorce his wife is revealed, there will be plenty of those envious and jealous women who will take the opportunity to trample her into the dust.
Rong Jinyue's lips curled into a gloomy arc: "Mother, just wait and see. I want to see what ability she, a daughter of a Vice Minister of Revenue, has to contend with the noblewomen of the Capital City without the protection of the Ninth Imperial Brother."
Consort Gu raised her hand, her slender white fingers gently stroking her hair: "A small Chu Yunfei is not worth you doing it yourself for now. You will lose face if you suffer a loss, and even if you gain an advantage, you will inevitably be left with a handle for being disrespectful to your Imperial Aunt. Therefore, you must know how to borrow a knife to kill."
Rong Jinyue's eyes were full of admiration: "Mother is still the best. Your subject should learn more from Mother."
Consort Gu glanced at her: "Remember, do not confront her directly."
"Yes." Rong Jinyue nodded heavily and agreed obediently, "Then your subject will take leave first. Mother, please rest well."
"Go."
Rong Jinyue took her leave and departed.
..
Last night was restless.
Chu Yunfei could not sleep and sat in the compartment thinking about things. Near midnight, she walked out and found that Rong Cang was also not asleep.
Frowning as she looked at the man reading under the lamp, Chu Yunfei's tone was indifferent: "Does it hurt too much to sleep?"
Rong Cang did not speak, as if he did not want to pay attention to her. His side profile was pale and distant, carrying an indifference that kept people at a distance.
"I will change the medicine for the Prince." Chu Yunfei's gaze caught the jar of ointment left by Imperial Physician Liu on the bedside, and her eyebrows and eyes deepened, "Although this ointment has a pain-relieving effect, it cannot be used repeatedly."
Upon hearing this, Rong Cang finally replied: "Why?"
"It is easy to become addicted." Chu Yunfei's gaze fell on the book in his hand, which was a military book, "Does the Prince really want to go back to the Border Pass?"
Rong Cang's gaze was slightly startled, his thoughts frozen by her words.
Easy to become addicted?
So she knew the ingredients in the ointment?
Chu Yunfei did not notice the change in his expression and turned to soak a handkerchief in a basin of clear water, then returned to carefully wipe his back clean.
After applying a layer of ointment to his back, Chu Yunfei said indifferently: "If people from the Palace insist on coming in to visit the Prince tomorrow morning, can the Prince cooperate with me?"
"Cooperate with you in what?"
"Let them get out." Chu Yunfei smiled faintly, "After all, as the Legitimate daughter of a third-rank Attendant Official's family, I am simply not enough to be seen in front of those Princesses and Princess Consorts."
"Aren't you also a Princess Consort?"
"Princess Consorts are not all the same." Chu Yunfei sat down on the couch nearby, her voice casual, as if she were chatting with him, "Princess Consort Chen comes from the Prime Minister's Estate, the daughter of the current first-rank Prime Minister; no one dares to slight her. But I am only the daughter of a third-rank Attendant Official, and the Chu Family is a newcomer in the Capital City with no foundation. Regardless of official position or family background, I am not worth mentioning in front of Princess Consort Chen."
Prince Zhan's thin lips pressed together, and a deep color flashed in his eyes, not knowing if it was guilt or other emotional fluctuations.
"As for husbands, I heard that Prince Chen respects his Princess Consort in every way, the two of them are as respectful as guests, and the Consort also prefers Prince Chen and his wife." Chu Yunfei's mouth raised a complex smile, "So the Prince should understand my predicament."
In fact, although Prince Zhan was not as favored as Prince Chen, Prince Zhan was tougher in court than Prince Chen because he held the military power of four hundred thousand troops.
Originally, Chu Yunfei could have been prestigious outside by relying on the identity and power of Prince Zhan, but unfortunately, Prince Zhan was going to divorce his wife recently.
With the marital relationship worsening, Prince Zhan would naturally no longer support his own Princess Consort, which led to those watching the joke outside becoming even more unscrupulous.
Chu Yunfei's meaning was very clear.
As a Prince, Rong Cang understood what she meant after a little thought.
The Imperial Court is the most noble place in the world, but it is also the place that reveals the most about humanity. Flattering the high and trampling the low has always been the method that Palace people are most skilled at.
Today, one is glorious and favored, surrounded by stars.
Tomorrow, once one loses power, one is trampled by thousands.
"What do you want me to do?" Rong Cang asked indifferently.
Chu Yunfei said: "During the time you are recovering from your injuries, I do not want to enter the Palace."
She needed some time to use the time Rong Cang spent recovering to find the person who cursed him, and to turn herself from a passive situation to a proactive one.
It was just that for the time being, she still needed Rong Cang's cooperation.
Rong Cang's voice was steady and calm: "If you don't want to go, then don't go."
Chu Yunfei said: "If I cannot stop the people coming from the Palace, I hope the Prince will help."
"Haven't all the guards in the Prince's Estate been placed under your command?" Rong Cang raised his eyes to glance at her, his tone indistinguishable in joy or anger, "Does this Prince still have a say?"
Chu Yunfei was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "So the Prince means that I can go head-to-head with them, even if they are people sent by the Consort?"
"You just make the decision."
"Thank you for your cooperation, Prince. With your words, I am relieved." Having received these words, Chu Yunfei stood up satisfied, then suddenly changed her tone, "Before going to sleep, I have one more question I would like to ask the Prince."
Rong Cang listened expressionlessly, looking like he did not want to respond anymore.
Chu Yunfei ignored whether he wanted to listen or not and just asked: "After I take the letter of divorce and leave the Prince's Estate, can I find a man to marry? After all, a child cannot be without a father."
As the words fell, the air in the bedroom froze.
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