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However, the pressing issue before Lin was not the love-hate entanglements of the previous generation.
It was his mother’s overly boastful nature.
In this day and age, no one would be so unreservedly self-congratulatory about their child. He hurriedly said, “Imperial aunt, please don’t take offense. My mother is just trying to encourage me; I truly don’t have any talent.”
“Not at all, there’s no need to be so nervous. This Princess has known your mother for quite some time,” Princess Xining replied, implying that she was quite familiar with Xu Qingyi and that their relationship was good.
Lin: “…”
Well, that was unnecessary worry on his part.
Xu Qingyi smiled at her eldest son as if to say, “See, your mother has found us a great ally.”
“Your Highness,” while they were speaking, Princess Zhenyang approached with a smile that was far from pleasant, but this time it was directed at Princess Xining. “I didn’t expect you to be here. If I had known you were coming, I would have had someone prepare your seat in advance.”
The implication was clear: Princess Zhenyang was insinuating that Princess Xining had come uninvited.
“I heard that Prince Su’s residence is hosting a banquet and has sent invitations to half the capital, yet I was specifically not invited. Does the Princess Consort have some grudge against me?” Princess Xining was not intimidated by her niece’s remark. With a forced smile, she pointedly replied, “If that’s the case, I might have to go to the palace and cry to the Empress Dowager.”
She was not only favored by the Emperor, but also the darling of the Empress Dowager.
A daughter-in-law married into the family could never compare to her own granddaughter.
If she truly went to the palace to complain to the Empress Dowager, the one who would suffer the repercussions would definitely be Princess Consort Su.
Princess Zhenyang spent her days fantasizing about being a true princess, yet she was still not one.
Faced with a genuinely favored princess, she could only swallow her pride and force a smile. “I was just joking with my aunt. Why take it seriously?”
Xu Qingyi rolled her eyes internally. Princess Zhenyang really was someone who bullied the weak and feared the strong.
Just as she was thinking this, Princess Zhenyang hastily confirmed her thoughts, frowning at Xu Qingyi. “Sister-in-law, you’ve kept the princess here for so long. Why not invite her inside to sit and talk? It’s not right to block someone in the middle of the way.”
Xu Qingyi, not being a princess, didn’t have the confidence to retort like Princess Xining.
Therefore, she glared at Princess Xining, daring to feel angry but not to speak.
“Zhenyang, so you usually speak to your sister-in-law like this? Don’t forget, she’s not only your sister-in-law, but also this Princess’s cousin-in-law,” Princess Xining stepped forward, standing in front of Xu Qingyi with a displeased expression.
Her sudden outburst startled Princess Zhenyang, who looked shocked.
It was strange. Her aunt, who loved Xie Yunzhi so deeply, was actually protecting Xu Qingyi.
Had she gone mad?
Lin was also shocked. Because of Princess Xining’s affection for his father, he had guessed that she might protect him, but he hadn’t expected her to be so kind to his mother.
It was unexpected.
“Your Highness is exaggerating. I wasn’t being bossy. I just have a loud voice,” Princess Zhenyang forced a smile, offering an explanation. Then, she looked at Xu Qingyi. “Sister-in-law, you don’t misunderstand me, do you?”
She assumed Xu Qingyi would try to smooth things over.
That was true. Xu Qingyi smiled, shaking her head. “I don’t misunderstand. Don’t I know what kind of person the Princess is?”
Princess Zhenyang, having been subtly insulted, was furious.
Xu Qingyi never suffered any losses and always spoke ill of her.
“Let’s go inside,” Princess Xining said, pleased. She was relieved that Xu Qingyi wasn’t someone who would meekly accept mistreatment.
“Yes,” Xu Qingyi followed closely behind Princess Xining.
Sensing that the Princess had something to say, Princess Xining led them to a quieter area of the corridor.
Xu Qingyi said gratefully, “Thank you, Princess, for your help.”
Seeing her apprehensive look, Princess Xining became curious. “Xu…Lin’s mother.”
Calling her by name felt impolite, and she couldn’t bring herself to call her “cousin-in-law,” so she settled on this. “You seem certain that Zhenyang will attack you.”
Xu Qingyi nodded, still shaken. “Actually, she already tried before. She sent someone to lure me to burn incense at the temple, but that was just a test.”
She didn’t mention that the person was Lin, to avoid damaging his image in Princess Xining’s eyes.
Princess Xining frowned severely. This niece of hers was truly unscrupulous and reckless.
“Be careful. In the future, avoid attending similar banquets whenever possible,” Princess Xining knew that one couldn’t always be on guard, but she couldn’t do anything more.
After all, Zhenyang was a princess of the Imperial family; she couldn’t help Xu Qingyi completely eliminate the threat.
“Yes, Princess, I understand,” Xu Qingyi said, already grateful to the Princess.
If the Princess were a bit less kind, she would be in dire straits.
Lin stood quietly behind them, saying nothing.
Mother and son wisely didn’t reveal that they had come hoping to find a chance to strike back at Princess Zhenyang.
At that moment, a nursemaid from Prince Su’s residence approached.
First, she greeted Princess Xining, smiling respectfully. “This servant, on the orders of the Princess Consort, has come to invite the Pingyang Marquis Eldest son’s wife and Young Master Lin to talk.”
The Princess Consort did have the right to summon Xu Qingyi, but Princess Xining disliked the Princess Consort’s “luring someone into a trap” approach. Wasn’t it clearly bullying?
“Where? This Princess will go with you,” Princess Xining said before Xu Qingyi could respond.
The nursemaid looked troubled because the Princess Consort had specifically instructed her to invite only the Pingyang Marquis Eldest son’s wife and son.
The matter was of great importance, and she had been told not to mess it up.
“Your Highness, the Princess Consort wishes to meet with the two esteemed guests privately. If Your Highness also wishes to see the Princess Consort, would it be possible to arrange it after the Princess Consort has finished meeting with them?” The nursemaid, fearing she would ruin the Princess Consort’s plan, dared to smile apologetically at Princess Xining.
“How dare you? Do you dare arrange this Princess’s schedule?” Princess Xining roared, exuding royal authority.
The nursemaid’s face turned pale, and she quickly knelt down. “Your Highness, please calm down. I absolutely didn’t mean to offend you; I was only following the Princess Consort’s orders.”
Her forehead pressed against the ground; she didn’t dare to raise her head, hoping the Princess wouldn’t make things difficult for her.
“It’s just a conversation, nothing that can’t be seen. Get up and lead the way.”
But Princess Xining, having just heard Xu Qingyi’s concerns and considering Princess Consort Su’s insistence on meeting Xu Qingyi privately, was already suspicious and wouldn’t let the other party have their way.
The nursemaid had no choice but to get up and lead the way. “Yes.”
On the other side, Princess Consort Su had already set a trap for her daughter, waiting for the nursemaid to bring the people so she could begin her plan.
Unexpectedly, Princess Xining was at the front, followed by Xu Qingyi and her son.
She was deeply shocked, her icy gaze falling on the inefficient nursemaid.
The nursemaid felt bitter. The Princess had given orders; how could a servant dare to disobey?
“Elder Sister-in-law, I heard you wanted to see Xining’s cousin-in-law. I’ve brought her here,” Princess Xining strode in, looking at Princess Consort Su’s unhappy face, her smile even more radiant. “What’s with this expression? Does Elder Sister-in-law only welcome my cousin-in-law and her son, but not this imperial sister?”
Princess Consort Su’s loss of composure lasted only a moment; she quickly adjusted her expression and smiled amicably. “How could that be? Who in this world would dare not welcome you?”
“That’s good,” Princess Xining ignored Princess Consort Su’s double entendre and turned to Xu Qingyi and her son. “Elder Sister-in-law wants to see you, so have a good chat. Then, you can go about your business.”
“Yes,” Xu Qingyi smiled and stepped forward, bowing to Princess Consort Su. “Qingyi greets the Princess Consort. May the Princess Consort be blessed with good fortune.”
“You’re too polite,” Princess Consort Su raised her hand, her gaze fixed on Xu Qingyi. She smiled. “You’re Zhenyang’s sister-in-law; we’re all family. Come, sit down and let’s talk.”
“Yes,” Xu Qingyi replied softly.
Then, Lin stepped forward to greet her, mature and composed, neither humble nor arrogant. “Xie Lin greets the Princess Consort. May the Princess Consort be blessed with good fortune.”
“Good child, sit down with your mother,” Princess Consort Su, having heard about Lin, observed him carefully, seemingly assessing his trustworthiness.
In the end, she found that the child’s eyes were remarkably guarded; nothing could be gleaned from his expression.
Xu Qingyi, the gentle and beautiful wife who had married into the Marquis family as a means to improve Xie Yunzhi’s luck, also appeared harmless.