Сhaptеr 5: The Sесоndаrу Сonsоrt Наs a Strаtegiс Mind and thе Wоrld in Hеr Hеаrt
Тhe nехt daу.
Whеn Сui Jin аwоkе, thе sky hаd not уеt fully brightened.
She sаt up lаnguidly аnd sаw Хiаo Lin on thе soft cоuсh орpоsite hеr.
Perhарs frоm sреnding toо much time in militarу саmрs, hе slept in a vеrу сasuаl pоsture. Thе blаnkеt hаd slippеd tо his waist, and his dishеveled lареls rеveаlеd a large expansе of his wеll-dеfinеd сhеst.
Hе had a fine рhysiquе, but alаs, he wаs incapable of fathering children.
The sound she made getting out of bed was slight, yet Xiao Lin immediately opened his eyes with vigilance. After staring at her for a moment, he averted his gaze and got up to dress.
Just then, a palace matron came in to collect the wedding handkerchief. Seeing that it was pristine white, her expression soured.
Xiao Lin frowned slightly at the sight.
Although Cui Jin was not the eldest legitimate daughter of the Cui family, she was the second. Furthermore, her maternal family was illustrious. If the Emperor and the Cui family learned that he had shown her such disrespect, they would surely be displeased with him.
Did Cui Jin genuinely not consider the matter of the wedding handkerchief, or was she trying to use the situation to force him to consummate the marriage?
Cui Jin, sitting at her dressing table, glanced at him.
Xiao Lin left without eating. She paid him no mind and leisurely had her breakfast.
Suddenly recalling something, she dismissed the Prince’s Manor’s maids and whispered an order to Ru Qiu, “Last night, Prince Xin silenced the matter. Cui Ruyue won’t dare to openly pin the blame for the marriage swap on me anymore, but she’s an expert at hinting and complaining about her grievances.”
Ru Qiu nodded. “This servant will pay attention to the rumors outside.”
“Good. Also, investigate her private dealings with Shen Zhiheng,” Cui Jin said, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Just in case.”
As long as the truth of the marriage swap remained unclear, Cui Ruyue would not stop trying to slander her—after all, between Xiao Lin and Shen Zhiheng, anyone with a brain knew which was the better choice, and not many people would believe Cui Jin was innocent.
But if it could be proven that Shen Zhiheng and Cui Ruyue had long been carrying on a secret affair, then she would be the most blameless victim.
Ru Qiu smiled with understanding. “The wedding was so rushed yesterday, the Eldest Miss likely didn’t have much time to search her own courtyard. This servant will send a message now and have Madam start the search in her courtyard first.”
Cui Jin nodded. “And the Shen family. Shen Zhiheng likes to hide things in his study. Have someone look for any keepsakes or letters from Cui Ruyue and find an opportunity to leak them to outsiders.”
“Yes.”
Watching Ru Qiu leave, Cui Jin was lost in thought for a moment before continuing her meal.
In her previous life, she hadn’t known until just before her death that those two had been in frequent contact. Shen Zhiheng had repeatedly helped Xiao Lin consolidate his power not because of Father Cui’s instructions, but because he was willing to become a blade in Xiao Lin’s hand for Cui Ruyue’s sake.
Otherwise, with Cui Ruyue’s limited intelligence, she would never have lasted six years in Prince Xin’s Manor.
Unfortunately, she had given Shen Zhiheng too much freedom and respect in her past life, allowing him to carry on a clandestine affair right under her nose…
A cold glint flashed in her eyes before her expression returned to calm.
Shen Zhiheng was in the past. Her future was in Prince Xin’s Manor.
The proper course of action was to first secure her position as Princess Consort and then plan her next steps slowly.
After her meal, she rinsed her mouth, changed her clothes, and prepared to go out.
Today, she had to enter the palace to pay respects to the Emperor and Empress—her official parents-in-law.
But just as she stepped out of her courtyard, she saw Xiao Lin sparring with a cool-tempered woman in white in the open space ahead.
She paused slightly.
Secondary Consort Lin Zhao.
She was the daughter of a minor ninth-rank general from the Southern Borderlands. Five years ago, when Xiao Lin was heading to the southern battlefield, he had saved Lin Zhao’s life. To repay his kindness, Lin Zhao had followed him directly to the battlefield and even taken a knife for him.
From then on, she became the white moonlight in Xiao Lin’s heart.
Because of her cool, moon-like demeanor and unyielding pride, she was quite famous in the capital. Teahouses and theaters vied to tell tales of her heroic exploits on the battlefield, and the dozens of timeless poems she had composed were eagerly sought after by scholars and literary talents.
If not for her low status, she would have long been Prince Xin’s Princess Consort.
As if sensing her gaze, Lin Zhao’s movements quickened, and her physical contact with Xiao Lin became more frequent, their rapport tinged with ambiguity.
Cui Jin watched for a moment, finding it utterly uninteresting.
Lin Zhao’s stance was unstable, her strength was feeble, and her strikes lacked decisiveness. It was nothing more than clumsy, amateurish kung fu.
Xiao Lin, however, had great patience, playing along with her as if it were a game of house.
Only after the servants’ greetings did Xiao Lin stop. He turned his head and saw the magnificently dressed and beautiful Cui Jin, and a flash of amazement crossed his eyes again.
At that moment, Lin Zhao lost her footing and stumbled into his arms.
She looked up, her clear eyes glaring. “Your Highness is always like this, stopping without a word of warning. If you wanted me to fall into your arms, you should have just said so!”
Xiao Lin let out a soft laugh.
Cui Jin also smiled. “The Prince withdrew his force for three moves before stopping. The Secondary Consort’s own stance is unstable, so how can she blame the Prince?”
Lin Zhao’s face stiffened slightly.
Xiao Lin asked in surprise, “The Princess Consort understands martial arts?”
“I was sickly as a child and couldn’t go out to play, so my cousins often practiced for me to watch. I picked up a little from observing them,” Cui Jin said in a gentle voice.
Ru Qiu bowed her head deeply. Those Cui family young masters who ended up with bruised noses and swollen faces at best, or broken bones at worst… what bad luck for them.
Xiao Lin couldn’t help but show a look of admiration.
Lin Zhao’s expression turned cold. She was about to say something, but the moment she saw Cui Jin’s face clearly, a flash of shock and panic crossed her features.
A daughter of the Cui family was this beautiful!
To put it nicely, Lin Zhao’s looks were spirited, but in truth, she was merely pretty, not even comparable to the concubines in the Prince’s Manor.
But Cui Jin… her beauty surpassed every woman Lin Zhao had ever seen.
She subconsciously tightened her grip on Xiao Lin’s hand, her voice cold. “Princess Consort, you are frail. Not consummating the marriage is a good thing for you, so don’t blame the Prince… By the way, I drank last night’s nuptial wine with the Prince in your stead. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Zhao’er,” Xiao Lin warned, “do not be disrespectful to the Princess Consort.”
“This is considered disrespectful?”
Surprise flashed across Lin Zhao’s cool face, followed by an impatient frown. “Women of the inner court are so sensitive. Are you going to hold a grudge over a word or two?”
In front of others, Xiao Lin still gave Cui Jin a measure of respect. “Don’t speak nonsense.”
“All people are equal.” Lin Zhao shook off his hand, her cool voice filled with pride. “I can’t play by the rules of rank and status, nor can I learn the pretentious ways of those inner court women! If you can’t stand it, just throw me out. I’d be more than happy to return to the borderlands!”
Cui Jin’s brow twitched slightly.
She did not speak up to reprimand her.
Right now, Lin Zhao’s position was secure, and she had Xiao Lin’s heart. A direct confrontation would surely result in her losing both face and ground.
As expected, Xiao Lin did not scold Lin Zhao. His eyes held a mix of helplessness and a hint of nervousness.
He quickly ordered his subordinates to open the storerooms and send over many precious jewels and ornaments. Only then did Lin Zhao offer a faint smile.
Her gaze swept over Cui Jin, her meaning unclear.
Cui Jin’s smile remained unchanged as she left with Xiao Lin.
Lin Zhao’s face turned cold instantly.
Her maid, eyeing her expression, cursed, “That Cui woman has taken the position of Princess Consort that rightfully belongs to you, and she dares to use that vixen’s face to seduce the Prince… And she calls herself a lady from a noble family. How utterly shameless!”
Another maid smiled. “She’s just an ignorant woman of the inner court. The Secondary Consort has a strategic mind and the world in her heart. You were meant to fight on the battlefield and only deigned to stay in the Prince’s Manor for the Prince’s sake. In terms of cunning and affection with the Prince, how could she possibly compare to you?”
“You’re a clever one,” Lin Zhao said, her expression proud. “How long can one last by serving a man with looks alone? I am a great female general. Considering a narrow-minded feudal woman like her as an opponent is to flatter her.”
“But since she dares to seduce the Prince, the Secondary Consort should let her know her place!”
The maids continued to devise plans as they helped her back.
…
After they boarded the carriage, Xiao Lin said to Cui Jin, “Zhao’er is used to being unrestrained in the Southern Borderlands. I hope the Princess Consort will be magnanimous.”
“I will also protect the person His Highness fancies,” Cui Jin said with a smile.
Seeing her understanding, Xiao Lin was satisfied.
Upon entering the palace, the two paid their respects to Emperor Yonglong and the Empress.
The matter of the mistaken marriage had already been reported to the palace, and as expected, Emperor Yonglong did not pursue it.
To him, as long as the bride was a legitimate daughter of the Cui family, it didn’t matter which one became his daughter-in-law. He only admonished Xiao Lin for a moment, telling him not to neglect the Princess Consort.
After all, Father Cui was the Minister of Rites, and Cui Jin’s maternal family, the Xie clan of Qinghe, was an ancient and powerful aristocratic family with deep-rooted influence.
After paying their respects to the Empress, the two then proceeded to Zhongcui Palace, the residence of Xiao Lin’s birth mother, Consort Shu.