Chapter 55: The Eldest Princess

Princess Gong’s consort, Madam Ma, wore a deeply furrowed brow.

She was the secondary wife of Prince Gong. Though technically a step-consort, since the official consort had died of illness merely two months after entering the household, Madam Ma, aside from her slightly inferior background, had held a position no different from the legitimate consort.

Madam Ma herself believed as much.

Unfortunately, not everyone around her agreed. Some gossipy consorts within the imperial clan always found ways to mutter a few sour words, suggesting that Madam Ma had taken advantage of the original consort’s untimely death…

At first, Madam Ma didn’t pay it any mind. But as the remarks accumulated and time wore on, she couldn’t help but become increasingly sensitive. Especially since the concubine Madam Jin had become pregnant shortly after her, gave birth shortly after her as well, and now even used the Eldest Princess as a tool to curry favor. Madam Ma’s dissatisfaction only deepened.

She had taken the Eldest Princess to be raised in her own quarters.

This, Madam Ma believed, was the best and most triumphant move she had ever made.

The eldest son and daughter were both raised under the knee of the principal wife.

Even if Prince Gong was emotionally indifferent toward her, for the sake of the two children, he frequently visited her quarters. In the years that followed, when Madam Jin gave birth to two daughters who both died young, the only one who remained safe and sound was the Eldest Princess, raised under the care of the principal wife. Though Prince Gong claimed not to mind, in his heart, he couldn’t help but feel that Madam Jin was incapable of raising children. His attitude toward her worsened day by day.

Once the Eldest Princess entered the palace, Madam Jin lost her last bargaining chip to stir Prince Gong’s affections. The once-favored concubine had now become a powerless figure in Madam Ma’s hands, toyed with at will, with no room to object.

As for the Eldest Princess who entered the palace—

For over a year now, she had always been respectful and courteous during festival holidays and state visits. The timid look in her eyes remained unchanged… including just now, when she was seen in Chengqian Palace.

But barely half an hour had passed when Madam Ma, having stepped into Xianfu Palace, noticed a change in the Eldest Princess’s gaze? Her eyes flickered with a glint of light, and Madam Ma sat quietly in a corner, secretly watching the princess’s every move, brows tightly knit.

The family had already been thrown into chaos over the matter of that concubine, Madam Wu. First, Wu Sangui declared himself emperor in Yunnan; next, Prince Gong had taken his granddaughter as a concubine—without the Emperor’s permission.

What was the meaning of this?

Colluding with the enemy? Or deliberately slapping the Emperor in the face? Whatever the motive, the Emperor had completely exploded in fury. Not only were all of Prince Gong’s titles stripped from top to bottom, but he was also ordered to return to the Imperial Academy for study.

At twenty-one, the prime age to make a name in court, and now he had to go back to school? These days, Prince Gong Changning had become the butt of every joke in the capital.

Madam Ma had come to the palace under the pretense of speaking with the Eldest Princess, hoping she would plead on the prince’s behalf.

Would the Emperor grow to dislike the Eldest Princess because of it? She was, after all, the adopted daughter of the Emperor and Empress—surely that was impossible… right? As for the slim chance of it happening that surfaced in her mind, Madam Ma quickly pushed the thought away and pretended to know nothing.

As time ticked on, Madam Ma grew increasingly anxious. Seizing the moment when the Crown Prince and the Ninth Prince had stepped away, she quickly approached. But with her entire attention focused on the Eldest Princess, she failed to notice that the entire courtyard had turned their eyes on her.

The affairs of Prince Gong’s household were known to all.

The consorts exchanged meaningful glances, tacitly understanding each other’s thoughts, like foxes in a melon field.

Madam Ma walked up to the Eldest Princess and called out with a smile, “Eldest Princess.”

The princess stirred slightly.

She suppressed the urge to rise and pretended not to hear Madam Ma’s voice.

“Eldest Princess.” Madam Ma raised her voice slightly, her brows tightly knotted as she fixed her sharp gaze on the princess, attempting to use her past authority to make her yield.

But what followed was completely different from what she had expected. The Eldest Princess did indeed raise her head, but before Madam Ma could flash a triumphant smile, she was met with a displeased rebuke:

“Princess Consort of Prince Gong, if you’re looking for someone, go do so elsewhere. What are you doing shouting in front of this palace?”

“…Eh? Eldest Princess—”

“What ‘Eldest Princess’ this and that? Nanny Xia, did the Princess Consort of Prince Gong bring someone with her?”

Nanny Xia stepped forward.

Her gaze swept icily over Madam Ma as she answered in a solemn tone, “Reporting to the Princess, the Princess Consort of Prince Gong entered the palace alone. She did not bring anyone.”

Nanny Xia gave a faint smile: “Shouting and yelling like this—could it be she’s gone mad?”

“W-Who’s shouting and yelling?” Madam Ma suddenly felt a foreboding sense of doom. She hurriedly took a step back and raised her voice, “Eldest Princess, how could you turn so disrespectful and unfilial after entering the palace, refusing even to acknowledge your stepmother—”

Upon hearing Madam Ma place the label of ‘disrespectful and unfilial’ upon the princess, those who had been listening nearby all frowned.

Wan Anran even stepped forward without hesitation.

She cut Madam Ma off immediately. “Princess Consort of Prince Gong, mind your words.”

Madam Ma recognized her.

After all, Wan Guiren was one of the focal figures of today’s gathering. Still, she was merely a Noble Lady, and Madam Ma paid her no regard. With a stern face, she replied, “This is a matter between myself and the Eldest Princess. Noble Lady, it would be best not to interfere.”

“If a Noble Lady can’t speak, surely this palace may.” Consort Xuan’s face turned cold. She stared at Madam Ma in displeasure. “There is no ‘Eldest Princess’ here—only the Eldest Princess of the Empire! A royal born of noble blood, raised personally by the Empress. Her father and mother are the Emperor and Empress. She is not someone just any random mongrel from outside can claim as their own.”

So you want to flatter the princess with big titles? We can do that too. Wan Anran nodded firmly and delivered the killing blow: “Or is it that the Princess Consort of Prince Gong thinks she outranks the Empress in authority?”

The two played off each other seamlessly.

Consort Xuan and Wan Anran were completely in sync, placing a massive, massive burden directly on Madam Ma’s shoulders.

First, Prince Gong had acted without the Emperor’s approval.

Now, his consort had shown disrespect to the Empress and Princess? If word of this got out, one would have to seriously question whether the Prince Gong residence could even continue to exist.

Madam Ma’s heart dropped.

The gazes of the surrounding consorts felt like needles against her back. Just imagining the consequences of these words leaking out was enough to drench her back in cold sweat. She instantly realized she had overestimated herself and underestimated how much the current situation differed from the past.

So now what?

Madam Ma gritted her teeth and dropped to her knees before the princess with a loud thud. Her posture was utterly submissive and pitiful, so much so that the three women were all startled.

Madam Ma choked on her sobs. “Your Highness, I beg you—please plead for the prince! His Highness adored you since you were young, and Yongshou always treated you like his own sister. And now… to suffer such misfortune…”

She wiped her tears as she detailed their hardships.

How Prince Gong had been entangled by that Madam Wu and had no choice but to take her as a concubine, how Yongshou missed the princess deeply after she entered the palace and frequently visited Madam Jin…

Every word painted the people of Prince Gong’s household as pure white lotuses rising unstained from the mud, while the rest were merely dirty water flung at them by others.

The Eldest Princess stood surrounded by people.

She looked down from on high at the weeping and sniveling Madam Ma, and in that moment, the dark shadows looming over her heart were entirely swept away.

So she was nothing but a paper tiger after all.

Just like this, you’re still trying to deceive me? A trace of mockery flashed through the Grand Princess’s eyes. She lifted her gaze and looked around—Xuan Consort’s anger, Yi Consort’s disdain, Nara Noble Lady’s sternness, and Wan Guiren’s worry all entered her sight one by one, instantly brightening her mood.

She stared deeply at Madam Ma, the Princess Consort of Prince Gong.

Then the Grand Princess spoke: “Princess Consort of Prince Gong, I will report this matter to Father Emperor.”

“Grand Princess!?”

“Grand Princess!?”

The first exclamations came from Wan Anran and the others.

The latter ones, full of delight, came from the Princess Consort of Prince Gong. She felt deeply relieved and was just about to praise the Grand Princess for her kindness and compassion—

But before Madam Ma could say another word, the Grand Princess continued, “However, as a princess, I am not well-versed in court affairs. I can only bring up your request. As for the rest, Father Emperor must investigate thoroughly and render justice for Prince Gong and yourself.”

The implication was clear to anyone with eyes:
The Grand Princess didn’t believe a word from the Princess Consort of Prince Gong.

Madam Ma’s face turned black.

Wan Anran tried her best to suppress her laughter, even feeling a stitch in her side from holding it in. Keeping her face straight, she took a deep breath and smilingly addressed the other consorts, “Ladies, would you like to come inside to see the Eleventh Prince? The child just woke up!”

The consorts, who had already had their fill of drama, nodded eagerly.

As the proverbial wild beasts in the melon patch, everyone had feasted on gossip until they were stuffed to the brim. This spectacle would surely provide enough fodder for the next—no!—the next three months of chatter.

Having already witnessed the scene in Chengqian Palace where the Twelfth Prince had convulsions, and now seeing the Princess Consort of Prince Gong crying her heart out in front of the Grand Princess, the consorts, though they’d been devouring gossip, also felt a tinge of secondhand embarrassment—this really was humiliating for all of them.

“Yes, yes, let’s go inside!”

“Come to think of it, we haven’t even seen the Eleventh Prince yet!”

The consorts eagerly responded one after another.

As soon as they stepped into the hall, their eyes were drawn to the Eleventh Prince.

Yinzhen had heard the commotion outside.

He wasn’t sleepy at all, staring wide-eyed at the entrance, letting out curious little coos.

Everyone gasped.

One look and it was obvious: the Eleventh Prince was much healthier than the Twelfth Prince!

Their eyes lit up.

The consorts happily crowded around the cradle, beaming as they looked at the Eleventh Prince. “Look at that chubby face, that plump little body—he’s like a little heavenly child beside a bodhisattva!”

But while the consorts were ecstatic, Yinzhen’s little face darkened. He scowled, glaring at them with his big round eyes and letting out grumpy little noises.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t yet the stern-faced lord of a future generation.

Wearing a red bellyband, he kicked his arms and legs with all his might, full of energy and vigor, melting the hearts of all the consorts.

The Princess Consort of Prince Yu, who had once lost both a son and a daughter in infancy and had nowhere to channel her maternal love, was the first to cry out, “This is just too adorable!”

Realizing all eyes were now on her, she belatedly came to her senses, her cheeks flushing red as she forced a cough to appear composed. But even so, her gaze remained fixed on the Eleventh Prince, as if she wished she could steal him away and raise him herself.

More burning stares came from the other consorts too. They presented small gifts to amuse the Eleventh Prince—trinkets made of gold and silver. After all, they had all thought this would be a celebration for two little princes, so each had brought two sets of presents.

Yinzhen tried several strategies but couldn’t drive away the circle of consorts. Thinking back, he couldn’t recall ever being surrounded by this many women fawning over him in his past life.

So he gave up and flopped back into the cradle.

Yinzhen decided: if I close my eyes, maybe none of this is happening…

But was that even possible?

The next moment, Nanny Zhao came forward and cheerfully helped the Eleventh Prince into a small cotton-padded coat, then topped it off with a tiger-head hat and matching tiger-head shoes knitted from yarn. Once she was done, the Eleventh Prince was completely round and pudgy.

It was a different kind of cuteness than the bellyband—still adorable, but in a new way. The consorts clutched their chests, taking turns to cradle, cuddle, and kiss the Eleventh Prince.

“The Eleventh Prince is such a good baby!”

“If it were my child, they’d be wailing by now.”

“Exactly! Wan Guiren is truly blessed!”

The consorts tsked in admiration.

Meanwhile, Yinzhen was utterly aggrieved. Sure, crying would work… but crying in front of all these people???

Yinzhen: ………

Forget it. If they want to kiss and cuddle me, let them.

There was only one soft, quiet, cute little bun like him—no crying, no fussing, just all-round adorableness. Surrounded by consorts and showered in sugary sweet words, a faint blush began to rise on Yinzhen’s little cheeks.

Every now and then… maybe hearing these things wasn’t so bad after all?