Chapter 2

Chapter 2

On the way back to the palace, the Crown Prince asked what the Empress and I had discussed.

I picked out the important parts and told him about my conversation with the Empress.

The Crown Prince was my husband. Our fortunes rose and fell together.

Besides, matters among the women in the inner courtyard were hardly anything serious.

At most, they were all just fighting over a man.

After hearing it, the Crown Prince showed no particular reaction. He only said I could decide for myself.

When we returned to the Eastern Palace, Qin Shuyu was already waiting at the entrance.

“Your Highness…”

In the next instant, the words she had yet to finish caught in her throat.

Because the Crown Prince was holding my hand as he helped me down from the carriage.

The attendants and maids who had come to greet us knelt all over the ground. Only Qin Shuyu stood there, looking wounded.

Her frail figure and red-rimmed eyes made her look unbearably pitiful.

I leaned against Deng Yuchen and spoke first.

“This must be Miss Yunyan.”

Since she was the daughter of a convicted official, she could no longer use her original name.

The Crown Prince had given her the name Yunyan, meaning the past was like passing clouds and smoke.

Deng Yuchen said nothing, but there was pity in his eyes.

It was only because I was present that he could not disregard my dignity.

Qin Shuyu bit her lip and curtsied. “Greetings, Your Highness.”

“Miss Yunyan and I are old acquaintances. There is no need for such formalities in the future. Treat this place as your own home. If you lack anything, come and tell me.”

I put on the full bearing of the mistress of the Eastern Palace, granting her favor while quietly pressing on her sore spot.

Without waiting for her to answer, I added, “The wind is strong at the entrance, and your health is delicate. You should hurry back and rest.”

Then I turned to Deng Yuchen. “Your Highness still has important matters to attend to, does he not? I will take my leave first.”

I blinked at Deng Yuchen, giving him a hint.

Deng Yuchen understood at once. “Indeed. I will have to trouble my beloved consort to return first. Once I finish my work, I will come see you.”

After Deng Yuchen left, Qin Shuyu glanced at me, bit her lip, and quickly followed him.

His heart had clearly already flown to Qin Shuyu. Why shouldn’t I help them along and show off my generosity?

Let him and Qin Shuyu cling to each other as inseparably as they wished.

Lady Qin’s background alone made her no real threat.

The one I needed to guard against now was the Empress’s young niece from her maternal family.

In less than half a day, Chenzhu returned with news.

The Empress’s niece, Wen Miaoyi, had just set out from Qianyang yesterday.

Since she was traveling leisurely and sightseeing along the way, it would take her at least a month to reach the capital.

Chenzhu sounded a little worried.

“This servant has heard that Miss Wen is as beautiful as a flower, innocent and unrestrained by nature, and much admired by the talented scholars of Qianyang.”

“In that case, she sounds like quite the charming person.”

Back then, the Emperor had ignored everyone’s objections and made Lady Wen, who came from humble origins, the Empress, chilling the hearts of many noble families.

Now, there was no possibility that they would allow another Lady Wen into the palace.

Seeing that the path of an imperial marriage grant would not work, the Empress wanted to use me as a shortcut to bring about a good match between the Crown Prince and Wen Miaoyi.

If the Emperor investigated the matter in the future, it would be I who had taken the initiative to ask for Wen Miaoyi to enter the Eastern Palace.

That was what would give her son the chance to meet Wen Miaoyi.

As for our Empress, she would remain spotless, without so much as a speck of dust on her hands.

I asked Chenzhu, “Do I look very stupid? Very easy to deceive?”

Chenzhu studied my face seriously. “Your Highness is a peerless beauty, and you were personally taught by the master. As the principal wife, one ought to be capable and competent. How could Your Highness possibly be stupid?”

That was true. My father was the Qinghe Cui Clan Head and the foremost leader of the literary elite. My mother had been a famously beautiful young lady of the Fanyang Lu Clan.

Since childhood, I had been taught by my father, while my mother guided me in household management.

It would not be an exaggeration to call me the model of noble young ladies in the capital.

And yet, not even two days after my marriage, the Empress, my mother-in-law in name, already wanted to use my hand to openly stuff her own niece into the Eastern Palace.

I could tolerate my husband bringing one beautiful concubine after another through the door.

But I could not tolerate someone using me as a raft and forcing me to do something I did not wish to do.

If Wen Miaoyi truly was innocent and unrestrained, then so be it.

If not, then she could not blame me for being ruthless.