Chapter 5: The Queen’s Inquiry

Princess Ning’an’s personal maid, Hong Xiu, saw that the princess was still fast asleep and showed no signs of waking up. She proceeded to the Queen’s Weiyang Palace.

After greeting the Queen and performing the required rituals, Hong Xiu reported:

“Indeed, the princess has lost interest in Fu Minglang. However, she wishes to become the concubine of the heir, Yan Shizi. She also instructed me to check on the preparation of her concubine’s residence and to ensure that Yan Shizi does not slack off.”

Li Ning’an had just woken up and instructed Hong Xiu to go to the Xiangguo Mansion to collect the keys to the concubine’s residence before turning over and continuing to sleep.

Hong Xiu knelt down with a thud, and despite her usually composed nature, she appeared unusually flustered. “Your Majesty, could the princess be possessed?”

“Nonsense,” the Queen rebuked.

How could such superstitions be associated with her Ning’an?

The Queen, with her well-maintained complexion, looked to be in her thirties.

Dressed in a peony-embroidered golden robe and wearing a phoenix crown, she exuded elegance and grandeur.

She had only two children left, Ning’an and Ningzhao. Though she wished for them to live happily, their status demanded that Ningzhao must strive diligently, which led her to be somewhat lenient with Ning’an.

The Emperor had indulged her too.

It had resulted in today’s unfortunate situation.

The Emperor felt that the balance of power had shifted, forcing Fu Minglang to comply.

But compliance wasn’t affection; it was a matter of imperial command, where one must submit or face consequences.

If Fu Minglang ever gained control, Ning’an would have no place to turn. Yet, that Yan Shizi was too wild and unruly.

If Duke Yan and his wife were still alive, this child wouldn’t be left without guidance, shielded by the Emperor, and ending up as he is now.

“Enough. The position of the prince consort has yet to be finalized. I’ll also try to persuade the Emperor to not spoil Ning’an too much. You may return now.”

Hong Xiu nodded in agreement.

Upon returning to the princess’s quarters and thinking about the princess’s orders, Hong Xiu had no choice but to visit the Xiangguo Mansion. The steward looked at her in surprise.

“Is the princess joking?”

How could she really become the heir’s concubine?

The steward had watched the two of them grow up. If it were up to him, he would gladly accept Ning’an as the heir’s wife a hundred times over.

But Ning’an had become infatuated with Fu Minglang and had made an irrational decision.

He also didn’t dare to say that perhaps Ning’an was deliberately trying to get close to the heir to make Fu Minglang anxious and care for her more.

After a night of gossip, there were all sorts of rumors.

In the end, it was still said that Ning’an was putting on a new show for Fu Minglang, even stopping the early morning pastry deliveries.

Hong Xiu didn’t concern herself with these rumors; she was following the princess’s orders.

“Steward, you must give me a key today.”

The Xiangguo Mansion had more than enough residences. Even if it was just a random one, it could be considered a pre-wedding gift to the princess.

Why be so stingy?

Translation:

Yan Ziqi was about to go out when he saw Hong Xiu. After inquiring, he discovered that Li Ning’an had indeed sent someone to fetch the keys, and he promptly had the person dismissed.

“She’s already giving her things away to others, and now she’s trying to deceive me.”

Hong Xiu was also angry.

What did Yan Shizi mean by that?

Was Princess Ning’an really lacking just one residence?

But she wasn’t as hot-tempered as Xing’e. She merely bowed in respect and returned to the palace. Seeing that the princess had already woken up and was having breakfast, she reported the incident. Xing’e, who was arranging the dishes, immediately became furious.

“He’s the real pauper.”

“Yet he still wants the princess to be his concubine.”

“He’s not even worthy of carrying the princess’s shoes.”

Li Ning’an noticed that while Xing’e was speaking up for her, she also made sure to put Li Ning’an’s favorite dishes on her plate. She couldn’t understand why she had once humbled herself to serve as a maid for Madam Fu.

She was surrounded by young women waiting for marriage and didn’t have anyone to consult about how to handle in-law relationships, so she asked Yan Ziqi for advice.

Yan Ziqi didn’t know where to find a suitable woman, but eventually, he brought a trembling woman sitting in a carriage, begging for mercy.

Li Ning’an felt like a bandit.

The carriage belonged to Yan Ziqi and was parked in a forest with no one around, not far from Foshan Temple. The woman had come from the temple after making offerings.

Yan Ziqi had his guards knock her out and bring her over.

Her two maids were lying outside.

The woman had already woken up. Since there was no room to move around, Li Ning’an gave Yan Ziqi a stern look and said while pinching her nose:

“Don’t be afraid. I’m just asking about how to get along with my in-laws.”

The woman, curled up in the carriage with her hands and feet bound and her eyes covered, shared her experiences with her mother-in-law, regardless of how strange the situation seemed.

Yan Ziqi didn’t dare to capture the main wives of high-ranking households for Li Ning’an. This woman was quite submissive at home and spoke only about how to please her mother-in-law and serve her.

It was clear it would take several days to learn everything.

The group agreed to meet at Foshan Temple in the afternoon. The woman would teach Li Ning’an about in-law relationships, and Li Ning’an would pay her a hundred taels of silver as compensation.

The woman was terrified but immediately agreed.

Since she had never been able to have children, and her mother-in-law had been sending her to the temple to pray, earning silver was a good deal for her.

Her main concern was that being abducted like this could compromise her reputation.

Even if she went back, she might not survive.

Yan Ziqi sent her back, and the two maids woke up. Hearing the young lady say they had fainted from exhaustion after climbing the mountain, they quickly apologized. The woman waved them off, saying it was fine.

Li Ning’an learned about being gentle, kind, and virtuous from her. After marrying into the Fu family, she treated Madam Fu even better than her own mother.

Now, sitting in the outer hall, looking at the crab roe crystal buns and chicken silk congee, she felt that what she had learned before was utterly useless.

Translation:

Li Ning’an finished her meal and went to the study to write and sketch.

She feared forgetting important details from her past life, so she made a list of major tasks that Fu Minglang could be promoted for and outlined the next steps in her plan.

Nie Rou and the others were temporarily staying at the guest residence.

Li Ning’an wasn’t afraid of Concubine Tong or the Fourth Sister, but she didn’t plan to keep them in the palace. She also wanted to open a wine house and establish an intelligence network.

However, she was unsure if she had enough time to train the secret guards.

Li Ning’an pondered and then wrote down her plans for the secret guards.

In her previous life, she had selected people for Fu Minglang from a tooth shop.

Now, it seemed the criminals’ warehouse might also be a good source.

“Hong Xiu, go to the criminals’ warehouse and find the steward. See what kinds of people they have there and bring back a detailed list.”

“Xing’e, this afternoon, take some people to the Fu residence and retrieve the contract.”

Li Ning’an guessed that the Fu residence wouldn’t return the contract willingly.

“The contract? Princess, you want to retrieve the contract from the Fu residence?”

Xing’e had always felt that the princess was too generous. When Madam Fu mentioned a few of Fu Minglang’s favorite foods, the princess had given her a shop in the Eastern Market, which made a net profit of five hundred taels a month.

Hong Xiu opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing.

Whatever the princess wanted to do, both she and Xing’e would support her.

Even if it meant going to their deaths.

Of course, the princess treated them very well, and they were reluctant to part with her.

Li Ning’an noticed Hong Xiu’s internal doubts but chose not to explain. The fact of her rebirth would remain buried in her heart.

Li Ning’an instructed Xing’e to bring more people. Normally, there were eight eunuchs assigned to the palace, and her father had given her twelve, so she should bring all of them.

“I’m no longer interested in Fu Minglang. If the Fu residence is willing to hand over the contract obediently, you won’t need to deal with them further.”

The implication was that if someone tried to play tricks, there would be no need for courtesy.

As long as they weren’t killed, Xing’e had protection behind her.

Seeing Xing’e leave with determination, Hong Xiu still mentioned a few concerns to avoid the princess’s anger.

Fu Minglang was most averse to using power to oppress others.

Although he wasn’t exactly a good person himself.

Xing’e knew that Hong Xiu was like a worm in the princess’s stomach. She nodded in agreement and went to the Fu residence with the twelve eunuchs.

Hong Xiu instructed the palace maids in the outer halls to be vigilant. The inner hall couldn’t be lacking attendants even if they weren’t serving there.

“Ah, Hong Xiu, there’s one more thing.”

Li Ning’an hurriedly ran out.

She almost forgot the crucial detail about Fu Minglang’s transfer to the Ministry of Rites.