PFC Chapter 418 Living in the Palace
Chapter 418 Living in the Palace
Princess Yuqing was skeptical of Consort Zhen's words.
The main problem is that she doesn't trust this person.
Imagine someone who used to be your enemy suddenly coming to your side.
Your first reaction is probably, "Is this person plotting something?"
What if they feign allegiance and then stab you in the back?
Consort Zhen felt uncomfortable under Princess Yuqing's gaze and confessed, "Princess, please don't look at me like that. I have my own request for your help."
Princess Yuqing smiled. Just as she expected…
Who would believe someone who asks for nothing? And even if someone asks for something, they can't be completely trusted.
Princess Yuqing saw that her little nephew's high fever had subsided and he was now fast asleep in her arms. She put him back on the bed, asked her daughter to watch over him, and then left the inner bedroom.
He turned to Consort Zhen and asked, "Tell me, what do you want?"
"I want to leave the palace and leave the capital safely with my family. I want to live a life free from worries about food and clothing..." What Consort Zhen wanted was actually very simple: to live like the vast majority of ordinary people.
All I ask for is family reunion, wealth, and good health.
However, Princess Yuqing found such a request somewhat unbelievable.
Consort Zhen used every trick in the book to win the Emperor's favor, and now she is willing to risk betraying him.
It was all just to leave the palace!
"Is that all?" Princess Yuqing looked at her, trying to glean something from her.
"Of course not..."
Consort Zhen noticed the scrutinizing look in Princess Yuqing's eyes and realized that Princess Yuqing did not believe her at all.
So he added another condition: "I want a fiefdom, and I want to live there with my family."
Her initial wish was simply to reunite her family, take some valuables with her, and buy a few houses.
But if Princess Yuqing were willing to grant her a fiefdom, she would have no regrets in this life.
"A fiefdom! You have no children, why would you want a fiefdom?" Princess Yuqing was somewhat surprised that she would make such a request.
But thinking about it, it's not unreasonable.
Consort Zhen is now a Noble Consort, what she lacks is a child.
"The Emperor has so many children, but not all of them have a mother to take care of them. I will adopt one and raise him carefully," Consort Zhen said frankly.
"But you must understand that, firstly, not all princes can be made kings, and even if they are made kings, they may not necessarily have fiefdoms and be able to leave the capital... Moreover, the matter of making kings and granting fiefdoms is the Emperor's business. Don't you think you've come to the wrong person to tell me this?"
“Princess, you are the one I’ve been looking for. I know you have many ways to help me, and I’m willing to become your advisor…”
"Not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can become my advisor," Princess Yuqing reminded her.
Having said all that, she didn't mind cooperating with this woman. What she wanted, neither the Prince of Chen nor any other prince could give her, but she could.
Of course, it wasn't given away for free.
Consort Zhen naturally understood this; there was no such thing as getting benefits for nothing.
The Emperor is growing old and has recently shown signs of approaching death.
Therefore, she urgently needs to find another protector.
That person was Princess Yuqing.
The reason for this choice was that, according to her observation, Princess Yuqing was a person with strong principles in both her conduct and her actions.
Most importantly, they also protect their own.
And because she was the eldest legitimate princess.
In this imperial city, among the servants of the princesses and princes, the servants of Princess Yuqing's household were the most arrogant.
Especially the nannies around her, even the other princes and princesses had to give them some face, and they were given the best food, clothing and other necessities.
However, this princess was extremely intolerant of even the slightest imperfection.
Anyone who has betrayed her will suffer a terrible fate.
I heard that she once discovered a spy that Prince Su had planted in his residence.
She gathered all the servants in the manor to watch her body being torn apart by five horses, and then threw the severed limbs into the mountains to feed the wolves, resulting in her death without a complete corpse.
This is precisely why he earned a reputation for being ruthless and cruel.
Although these are all rumors, there's no smoke without fire.
But even so.
If she had to choose between Prince Chen and Princess Yuqing, she would rather entrust her loyalty to Princess Yuqing.
As a woman herself, she believed that Princess Yuqing could understand her situation to some extent.
Instead of being like Prince Chen, who only wanted to possess her, manipulate her, and use her to make her do those heinous things.
When they're no longer useful, kick them away again.
Like Jiang Zijin, they didn't even know how they died.
Having learned from past mistakes, no matter how desperate she was, she would not board Prince Chen's pirate ship.
She would never say these words aloud.
He only asked, "What will it take for the princess to believe me?"
Princess Yuqing's principle was to use it first and then talk about whether to believe it or not.
She considers both loyalty and ability when selecting people.
If you can't even handle a small matter, there's no point in saying anything more.
"It's very simple. First, you have to find a way to get the Emperor to release my mother and send the Crown Prince back to the Eastern Palace. If you can do that, then you can wait for a better price."
“…Alright.” Consort Zhen agreed, though somewhat reluctantly.
Because this might be the only chance Princess Yuqing is giving her.
Although she wasn't confident she could persuade the emperor.
Because of Yu'er's illness.
Miao Miao and her daughter naturally stayed in the Consort Zhen's Palace.
Princess Yuqing even brazenly ordered around the palace servants in Consort Zhen's palace, treating them as if they were her own home, without any sense of formality.
"Your Highness, Yu'er is ill, so we definitely can't leave. We'll have to trouble you for a few days. You won't mind, will you?"
It wasn't that Princess Yuqing couldn't take Yu'er back, but she was afraid that the Crown Prince's condition would worsen if he found out, and she was also afraid that her mother would defy the imperial decree and rush out to confront her father.
Now is not the time to tear off all ties.
What I fear most is that my loved ones will suffer while my enemies will rejoice.
"No... I don't mind." Consort Zhen smiled wryly.
What can I do if I mind? I just pledged my loyalty; I can't just go back on my word now, can I?
It is definitely not possible.
Princess Yuqing directed people to carry things into the room: "Granny, go and fetch my silk quilt cover and pillows. I'm not used to sleeping in the same bed..."
“Mommy, my sheets, blankets, and tableware also need to be changed. I can’t eat or sleep if I use other people’s.” Miaomiao also came forward to join in the fun.
"Replace everything, including my tea set and tableware..."
"Also, bring my zither and erhu. Didn't Miaomiao say she wanted to learn the erhu? We can put that on the agenda now."
Miaomiao: ...
The little girl blinked as she looked at Princess Yuqing.
When did I say I wanted to learn the erhu?
Princess Yuqing looked at her daughter with a smile: "Where did Miaomiao bring her things?"
Miaomiao looked at Xier...
Where are my things?
Xi'er understood and soon brought her things over.
From small items like bedspreads and blankets, cups and tableware, to large items like a rocking chair for a girl, they brought everything.
They almost moved Miaomiao's house over as well.
Is this a move?
Consort Zhen's brows twitched, somewhat relieved that she had just pledged allegiance to Princess Yuqing.
Otherwise, who knows what kind of trouble this mother and daughter would cause me.
Jiang Miaomiao looked at Xi'er, her mouth agape. She didn't remember letting Xi'er accept so many.
No wonder the princess and her second brother felt comfortable letting her enter the palace.
This was practically turning Consort Zhen's Hua Cui Palace into her own home; the princess even brought in the palace's cooks.
That’s really thoughtful.
Consort Zhen was on the verge of tears, looking aggrieved. She deliberately went to the Emperor and complained, "Your Majesty, once the Crown Prince is better, perhaps we should let the Princess take him away. Right now, there's hardly any room for me in Hua Cui Palace... Waaah..."
The Emperor went to see it and was speechless.
His face turned green.
Yuqing's presence here influenced his romantic moments with his favorite concubine.
This girl must have done it on purpose.
And the younger one, he's always learning to play the erhu, making a terrible racket.
He almost choked to death while eating because of the diarrhea, and he had nightmares while sleeping.
"Stop playing! If you keep playing, I'll smash your erhu!" the emperor glared at the little girl.
Miao Miao pouted: "How can Your Majesty stop a child from learning and making progress?"
Her mother wouldn't let her learn anything else, but insisted she learn this. Every time she pulled, the emperor's face would scrunch up.
He frowned as soon as he pulled it, as if he had flipped a switch.
Miaomiao thought it was really interesting.
We need to stay for a few more days.
emperor:……
……