Chapter 71: Coercion and Enticement

After the mother and son took their seats, the servants quickly brought over tea and refreshments.

Princess Xining, however, didn’t wait for anyone to tell her what to do. She had already found a chair and settled down.

She had no intention of standing around.

“This is a fine Huangshan Maofeng tea. Please, do have some,” Princess Consort Su said with a smile.

It was a hot day, and the princess had traveled by carriage, so she was indeed thirsty. She picked up her cup and took a couple of sips.

Lin also had some.

But Xu Qingyi didn’t touch her teacup.

This immediately drew the Princess Consort’s attention. Her fingers paused mid-way through taking a sip, and she smiled slightly. “What’s wrong, Qingyi? Don’t you like Maofeng tea? If you don’t, just tell the servants to get you something else.”

“No, it’s nothing, Princess Consort. You’re too kind,” Xu Qingyi said, a little embarrassed. “I’m a bit of a ‘cat’s tongue,’ you see. I can’t drink tea that’s too hot. I’ll wait for it to cool down.”

“I see,” Princess Consort Su said, her eyes flickering slightly. “Then wait until it cools down. You can have some sweets or fruit in the meantime.”

Princess Xining actually believed Xu Qingyi was sensitive to hot temperatures, and immediately wanted to call for someone to bring cold tea.

But then she thought about where they were – Princess Consort Su’s residence – and changed her mind.

“Yes, thank you, Princess Consort,” Xu Qingyi replied, her attitude faultless, yet she still didn’t touch anything.

It was clear she was being very cautious.

Princess Consort Su noticed this but said nothing.

Princess Xining also noticed, and immediately put down her teacup, stepping in to smooth things over for Xu Qingyi. “Lin’s mother always eats so little.  Last time she was at my place, she didn’t eat much either.”

“Really? No wonder Qingyi is so slender,” Princess Consort Su said, still smiling pleasantly.

“It’s probably the summer heat. I’ll be better once it passes,” Xu Qingyi replied, seizing the opportunity.

The Princess Consort nodded, then sighed suddenly. “I wanted to speak with you privately today, mainly about Zhenyang.  She’s been spoiled by her father and me, and her temper isn’t the best. If she’s offended you in any way these past few days, I apologize on her behalf.”

“That’s true. Just now, Zhenyang was shouting at her sister-in-law outside. It was quite unbecoming.  Even though she’s a princess, she shouldn’t behave like that just because of her status.  Her sister-in-law should really discipline her,” Princess Xining complained.

Xu Qingyi listened, silently congratulating herself for the umpteenth time on her decision to seek Princess Xining’s help.  It had been the right choice.

“Of course. Now that she’s married, the Prince and I will certainly discipline her strictly,” Princess Consort Su said, though inwardly she was quite annoyed with Princess Xining.  She still maintained a pleasant tone.

At the same time, she thought to herself that today’s plan was likely to fail.

“Young ladies are like that when they first get married,” Xu Qingyi said with a smile.  “I wasn’t very mature when I first got married either. It gets better with time. As they say, ‘Every generation has its own blessings.’ The princess clearly has a blessed life.  Your Grace needn’t worry too much.”

Zhenyang was right; she hadn’t said a single kind word.  Everything she said was irritating.

What a deceptive appearance of kindness.

“Let’s hope so,” Princess Consort Su said, though her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

She then turned her attention to Lin, asking gently, “I hear Lin is taking the Xiucai examination this year, and will be taking it with your second uncle. How are your preparations going? Are you confident?”

As the younger one, Lin stood up and answered when addressed. “I’ll do my best.  If all goes well, I should be able to pass.”

“Mm, I wish you and your second uncle both success in the examinations,” Princess Consort Su said, nodding.  Then she instructed a nearby old maid. “I remember His Majesty bestowed a box of imperial Mei Xiang ink on the Prince a few days ago, didn’t he? Go fetch a set, and add two Lake brushes.  Give them to Lin to take home.”

Imperial Mei Xiang ink? That’s quite something, Xu Qingyi thought.  The Princess Consort and Zhenyang are truly mother and daughter; their methods of winning people over are exactly the same.

But one shouldn’t speak ill of the gifts.  Wealth and power are tempting, especially for someone like Lin.

Putting herself in Lin’s shoes, she understood how hard it would be to resist such a generous offer.

“Thank you, Princess Consort, for your kindness to Lin,” Xu Qingyi said with a smile.

She glanced at Lin.

While worried that their mother-son bond might be threatened by money and power, she couldn’t do anything about it. She had neither the money nor the power.

She could only leave it to fate.

“Lin, quickly thank the Princess Consort for her gift.”

“Thank you, Princess Consort, for your gift,” Lin bowed deeply.

“We’re family; there’s no need to be so formal,” the Princess Consort paused, then said, “Well, there are many other guests outside. I won’t keep you any longer. Let’s chat again next time.”

“Yes,” Xu Qingyi stood up to leave.

From beginning to end, she hadn’t touched a single thing in the Princess Consort’s residence.

After they left, Princess Zhenyang emerged from behind, her face dark. “That meddling Imperial Aunt! Is she mad? Why is she protecting that woman so much?”

“She’s not mad; she just doesn’t want you to succeed,” Princess Consort Su said, her smile gone.  Their carefully laid plans had been ruined by Princess Xining. “It seems today won’t work.”

“Mother, we finally managed to get her here. Next time, she’ll be even more cautious!” Princess Zhenyang had stayed at the Pingyang Marquis’s residence for a while and knew how secluded Xu Qingyi lived. Opportunities to approach her were extremely rare.

“Then what do you suggest?” Princess Consort Su looked at her daughter.  Xu Qingyi was already quite wary; she hadn’t touched any of the tea or refreshments.

“Let Lin do it,” Princess Zhenyang said, a crazed look on her face.

“No, you’re too hasty. Wait,” the Princess Consort said. She didn’t think Lin was trustworthy yet.

They needed to find Lin’s weakness before they could truly control him.

“Mother!” Princess Zhenyang disagreed.

Wait and wait – how long would they have to wait?

She couldn’t wait any longer. She didn’t want to experience the pain of last night again.

“Listen to me,” the Princess Consort glared at her daughter, her eyes full of authority.

“…” Princess Zhenyang didn’t dare openly defy her mother, so she reluctantly shut her mouth.

But she was never one to blindly obey; she only appeared obedient on the surface, while secretly plotting.

In the end, Princess Zhenyang secretly sent someone to find Lin, without her mother’s knowledge.

At the banquet, Lin left Xu Qingyi and Princess Xining and went to the men’s section.

When Princess Zhenyang’s messenger approached him, he followed them, winding through several corridors until they reached a secluded room where he waited.

Soon, Princess Zhenyang entered.

“Lin,” she said directly. “Your aunt has a task for you. If you succeed, she’ll ensure your career path is smooth and your advancement swift.”

Lin remained silent.

“You should understand the situation,” Princess Zhenyang said, using coercion and enticement. “If you don’t, let me make it clear to you. This world will eventually belong to my father, so…”

She paused, staring into Lin’s eyes, tempting him. “Whether you choose to stand by me or your adoptive mother, you should know the answer.”

Lin’s eyelashes fluttered. “Yes.”

“This is your chance. If you dare betray me, even if your father wakes up, he won’t be able to save you,” Princess Zhenyang said, pulling a porcelain vial from her bosom.

Lin hesitated for a moment, then took the vial with both hands.

It seemed to contain a single pill.

“Don’t worry, it’s just a hallucinogen. It dissolves in water and won’t kill her,” Princess Zhenyang said.

“But how can I do it in front of everyone?” Lin looked troubled. “Can you give me someone to help? I can go to the kitchen and add the drug to the tea, make a mark on the cup, and then persuade Mother to drink it.”

Princess Zhenyang considered this. It would indeed be easier this way.

As long as Lin was the one who administered the drug, it wouldn’t involve her.

“Alright,” Princess Zhenyang agreed, and then assigned an old maid to assist Lin.

Lin took the vial and went to the kitchen with the old maid.

The banquet was about to begin, and the kitchen was bustling with activity.

“Please ask clearly which dishes are for the guests, so we don’t make a mistake,” Lin whispered to the old maid.

The old maid nodded and went to inquire.

As soon as the old maid left, Lin also went to inquire.  However, he asked which dishes were prepared for the honored guests.

The servants, seeing that he was accompanied by the old maid from the princess’s entourage, dared not neglect him and answered truthfully.  The princess was a precious member of the household; her meals were naturally different.

After the old maid returned, Lin asked her to keep watch.

When no one was around, he found an opportunity to add the drug and made a mark on the chosen cup.

The old maid then instructed the servant responsible for serving the food: “Keep your eyes open and remember this stewed dish. Young Master Lin personally chose it to show his filial piety to his mother.  Make absolutely sure this dish is placed on the table of the Pingyang Marquisate people.”

If anything went wrong, all responsibility would be placed on Lin.

And if Lin dared to implicate the princess, who would believe him?