Liangzhou, Tangshan Manor

This is the private residence of the governor of Liangzhou.

Due to its refreshing and elegant atmosphere, the Crown Prince had been staying here since he arrived in Liangzhou.

“Your Highness, a letter from the capital has arrived.”

Upon hearing Fquan’s voice, the Crown Prince finally looked up from his desk.

His usually aloof and handsome face broke into a smile.

Letters from the capital inquiring about Liangzhou’s situation arrived every few days, but since Fuquan was smiling, it was clear that this letter was not a routine official document.

Indeed, Fuquan’s smirk was rather sly as he placed the letter before the Crown Prince. “It’s from the Eastern Palace.”

The Crown Prince opened the letter and first saw a drawing.

Although it was called a drawing, it only had some crooked lines and ink blots of various sizes.

Fuquan leaned in curiously but was puzzled. “What is this drawing of, Your Highness? I can’t make sense of it.”

“The drawing is of Yuanbao fishing with the old man,” the Crown Prince explained. “This circle represents the lake, this is the old man, and this is Yuanbao himself.”

Fuquan nodded in admiration, impressed that even such a simple drawing could be understood by the Crown Prince.

Removing the drawing, there was a page of bold cursive writing.

Fuquan’s eyes narrowed as he hissed in confusion. “Is this from Lord An’s letter? His handwriting is so…” Fquan trailed off, unable to decipher it.

The Crown Prince didn’t respond, silently finishing the page and finally showing a cold smile.

“What is Lord An’s letter about?” Fuquan asked.

The cursive was so messy that even Fuquan, who was focused, couldn’t make out many words.

“Nothing important, just boasting,” the Crown Prince said, frowning slightly as he looked at the page. “Is there nothing else?”

“I didn’t touch the letter. It came to you just as it was. If there’s nothing more, then that’s it,” Fuquan said, clearly understanding what was troubling the Crown Prince.

“She didn’t leave any message?”

“No message,” Fuquan cleared his throat. “I asked the secret guard who delivered the letter. Miss Rongrong has been very busy lately, either writing scripts at home or going out to attend banquets and enjoy flowers.”

“Banquets?” The Crown Prince’s tone became noticeably colder.

This woman didn’t even bother to send him a single word!

Fuquan replied with a smile, “Since Miss Rongrong visited the Prince Su’s residence, she has made several friends, especially with Princess Zhaoyang and Princess Anyang. They get along very well and frequently invite Miss Rongrong to the palace for visits.”

The Crown Prince was surprised that even the usually reserved Princess Anyang and the cautious Prince Su couldn’t resist being involved.

Whether to curry favor or not, as long as the siblings don’t cause trouble, the Crown Prince won’t mistreat them.

However, it’s a good thing that they’re flattering and supporting Rongrong.

She’s such a timid woman; spending more time with them could help build her courage.

Moreover, when she stands by his side with legitimacy in the future, she will face countless noble women.

It’s best for her to learn from people like the Princess of Su and others now.

Thinking this, the Crown Prince sighed inwardly.

She’s not a fool; she’s clever and smart.

The only issue is that she always thinks too highly of people.

When someone is good to her, she feels she must be even better to them in return.

Does she need a wake-up call to understand the dangers of human nature?

The Crown Prince smirked, self-mockingly.

She’s like a hedgehog; he needs to protect her and help her shed her defenses, so she doesn’t live in constant caution.

Seeing that it was about time, Fuquan spoke, “Your Highness, besides the letter, the Eastern Palace sent something else.”

The Crown Prince shot Fuquan a stern look. Fuquan shrank back and took a long, white porcelain bottle from one of the guards outside.

Fuquan smiled calmly, saying it was just a gift, not a message.

“What is this?” The Crown Prince scrutinized the bottle.

“It’s peach blossom wine made by Miss Rongrong herself. She originally wanted to make some food, but worried it might spoil on the way, so she made wine instead. It was brewed the day after Your Highness left the capital, and today is the perfect time to open it.”

A small bottle of wine—was this supposed to impress him?

“Put it down.” The Crown Prince snorted, not giving the wine another glance.

Seeing the Crown Prince unmoved, Fuquan respectfully offered, “Would Your Highness like to taste it now? I can pour you a glass.”

The Crown Prince gave Fuquan an impatient look. “Why drink wine during the day?”

“Yes, sir.” Fuquan obediently put down the wine.

The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment. “Fuquan.”

“Yes?”

“Inform the Cabinet that the Duke of Su has been working diligently and without error in the Ministry of Rites for a long time, and he should be considered for promotion.”

“Understood.”

“Also, have Liuli pick out a few rare items from the Eastern Palace’s storeroom and send them to the Princess of Zhaoyang and the Princess of Yueyang. These matters should not be publicized or concealed.”

“Yes.” Fuquan understood the Crown Prince’s intention.

The Crown Prince wanted to make it clear to everyone that anyone who treats Miss Rongrong well would be rewarded by him.

However, these things are always about seizing the opportunity.

The ones who get ahead will benefit the most.

The Duke of Su, Zhaoyang, and Anyang are all very smart people.

“There’s one more thing that needs your decision.”

“Speak.”

“The date for Prince Qing’s secondary marriage has been set. How should the Eastern Palace prepare the gifts?”

The Crown Prince had never intended to involve Prince Qing in his own affairs, but somehow, every time trouble arose, Prince Qing always ended up involved.

The Crown Prince sighed heavily, “When is it scheduled?”

“On the 5th of next month, which is the date selected by the Bureau of Astronomy, it’s the only auspicious day before the new year,” Fuquan reported.

The Crown Prince thought for a moment and replied, “Prepare the wedding gifts accordingly.”

“This… Won’t this embarrass Lord An?”

Fuquan was referring to Old Duke An, but the Crown Prince knew he meant someone else.

He coldly replied, “What do you think?”

“I understand now.”

Fuquan left the room, and the Crown Prince picked up a white porcelain bottle from the desk.

When he removed the cork, a delightful peach blossom scent filled the air.

The fragrance was intoxicating, much like the woman’s own scent; just inhaling it was enough to make one slightly tipsy.

The Crown Prince glanced at the wine glass, frowned, and thought that drinking directly from the bottle would be more satisfying.

Just as he was about to take a gulp, he remembered that this was the only small bottle she had sent him.

If he drank it all today, he wondered when he would receive more.

At that moment, Fuquan re-entered the room, and the Crown Prince, still with a sip of wine in his mouth, choked and spilled some.

Fuquan tried to stifle his laughter, quickly rushing over to clean the Crown Prince’s mouth with a handkerchief.

The Crown Prince’s expression was extremely displeased. “What are you doing here?”

“Your Highness, Lord Wang has arrived and says there is an urgent matter to report, so…”

“Let him in.” The Crown Prince set the bottle down and replaced the cork.

Soon, Fuquan brought in a young man dressed in the attire of a fifth-rank official.

The newcomer had an average appearance and a slender build, but his facial features were rather stern, giving him a scholarly air.

“Minister Wang Yikang greets Your Highness.”

Wang Yikang was the elder brother of Wang Yilan, who was married to Xie Yuanchu.

The Wang family was known for their scholarly tradition.

Wang Yikang passed the provincial exams at fifteen and was selected as a scholar at twenty-six.

After serving as a Hanlin Academy member for two years, he was assigned to the Ministry of Revenue but had not been promoted since.

Originally, the Cabinet had selected another official from the Ministry of Revenue for the Crown Prince, but he injured his leg before departure, so Wang Yikang was assigned instead.

The Crown Prince had heard of Wang Yikang’s reputation as a bookish scholar and had a new appreciation for him after seeing his actions on the way to Liangzhou.

Despite his scholarly demeanor, Wang Yikang was practical.

He had a deep understanding of locust plagues and quickly devised a method to control the disaster upon arriving in Liangzhou.

The Crown Prince said, “No need for formalities. If you have something to say, just say it.”

---

On the 5th of May, an auspicious day for weddings and groundbreaking ceremonies:

Before dawn, the matchmaker arrived at the Weiyuan Marquis’s residence. Liang Muchen sat in front of the mirror as her maidservants applied makeup and drew her eyebrows.

The Weiyuan Marquis’s wife stood nearby, sometimes smiling and sometimes shedding tears.

A daughter’s marriage was a joyful event, but thinking about the reasons behind this marriage and her daughter’s status as a concubine made the Marquis’s wife’s heart ache.

However, she couldn’t show her sadness to her daughter.

When the imperial decree was first issued, Liang Muchen had cried every day.

The Marquis’s wife felt heartbroken watching her daughter suffer.

But somehow, her daughter suddenly came to terms with it, started eating and taking medicine properly, and even began caring about her dowry.

The Duchess of Wei Yuan understood that her daughter had grown up and was showing maturity, but this maturity was painful to see.

Who doesn’t wish their daughter could remain forever bright and innocent?

From a young age, Liang Muchen had lived with the Duke of Wei Yuan and herself on the frontier.

Although their life was humble and they lacked the luxuries of the capital, their daughter was always cherished and protected.

They had hoped life in the capital would be better, but so many troubles had arisen.

Looking back, it might have been better to stay on the frontier and find a solid, dependable young man for her, so she could live a stable life.

“Mother,” Liang Muchen noticed her mother’s tearful eyes in the mirror, so she turned and smiled brightly at her.

The Duchess of Wei Yuan, startled, quickly wiped her tears. “What’s wrong? Is the crown too heavy?”

Liang Muchen shook her head and, with a hint of childishness, said, “I’m a bit hungry. Mother, could you give me something to eat?”

“Always thinking about food!” The food had already been prepared—delicate pastries and snacks carried by her maids, ready for Liang Muchen to eat on the way to regain her strength.

As Liang Muchen wanted to eat, the Duchess immediately had the food brought out, including candied fruit and rice cakes.

After eating a bit, a servant came in to announce that Princess Zhaoyang, Princess Anyang, and Rongrong had arrived to help with Liang Muchen’s makeup.

Since they were from the palace, the Duchess had to go out to greet them.

Once the formalities were done, Liang Muchen was ready.

Soon, it was the auspicious time. The Duchess instructed everyone to leave.

“The Eastern Palace and the two princesses have sent generous gifts, matching the standard for a principal wife,” the Duchess said, patting Liang Muchen’s hand. “This is the Emperor and Empress showing their consideration for your situation. But remember, once you’re in the Prince Qing’s residence, you’re a secondary wife, so avoid conflicting with the main wife. The main wife is the Empress’s niece, and if there’s a conflict, the Empress won’t support you.”

“Don’t worry, Mother. I understand. Once I’m in Prince Qing’s residence, I won’t go against the main wife. I’ll do my best to serve the prince.”

The Duchess looked at her daughter with tearful eyes again.

Her daughter, who had been pampered from a young age, had suddenly grown up and was now comforting her.

“Mother knows you’re sensible. In the future, be cautious in the Prince’s residence. Don’t act impulsively. Do you remember what I taught you yesterday?”

Remembering the embarrassing manuals her mother had shown her, Liang Muchen blushed and lowered her head shyly. “I remember.”

“Prince Qing is already married. Just follow his lead and don’t be too anxious. If you’re hurt, just tell him. If he cares, he’ll show you kindness.”

Liang Muchen nodded, about to say a few more words to her mother when officials from the Ministry of Rites outside urged them on.

“Duchess, the auspicious time has arrived. Please let the secondary wife come out.”

With the Duke of Wei Yuan stationed on the frontier and unable to return for the wedding, Liang Muchen bid farewell to her mother and boarded the ceremonial carriage to Prince Qing’s residence.

Though the wedding arrangements and the carriage were made to the standards of a principal wife, as a secondary wife, Prince Qing did not come to the Duke’s residence for the ceremony.

As Liang Muchen boarded the carriage, she took a final look at the Duke’s residence and shed a last tear.

She would be strong—for her mother, her father, and herself.