Chapter 16: The Crown Princess Selection

Upon hearing this, Qing’er couldn’t help but show surprise, “But… didn’t the Old Madam say we are not allowed to help beggars?”

Last time, the lady was punished, and she was deeply afraid her mistress would anger the Old Madam again.

“If you don’t say it, and I don’t say it, who would know she’s a beggar?” Xia Tong raised her brow and smiled, “Just tell them she’s a distant relative of yours. Go inform Butler Zhao. He’ll give you this favor.”

It was just about buying a servant, after all. That snobbish Steward Zhao wouldn’t refuse. After all, Xia Tong was favored by the Old Madam, and Qing’er was her personal maid. He wouldn’t dare act out of line.

Seeing this, Qing’er hesitated for a moment. She felt that her master was simply being kind, so without delaying too long, she left to handle the matter.

Xia Tong was looking forward to it. A good teammate could help her a lot. Besides, there were so many conspiracies and intrigues in the inner house. Bringing that person along was like carrying a poison needle with her.

After waiting for two whole hours without Qing’er returning, Xia Tong had no choice but to go and have dinner with the old lady for dinner. The old lady seemed to have thought of a way to deal with the Duke’s family, as her expression was much better than in the afternoon. She treated Xia Tong even more kindly, as did her aunts, who now seemed all too concerned and affectionate, in stark contrast to their previous behavior of kicking her mother when she was down.

Xia Tong left the old lady’s place with a load of gifts, feeling quite pleased. With her current assets, she figured she could live comfortably for at least the next ten years, should she need to escape in the future.

When she returned to her room, she saw Qing’er standing with a pretty young girl by her side. The girl had already changed into the household maid’s uniform. Though young, she didn’t seem timid. Qing’er was introducing her to the others in the courtyard, and with the cover story of being a distant relative, no one in the household would dare to bully her in the future.

“Miss, would you like to take a bath?”

Seeing Xia Tong return, Qing’er immediately greeted her respectfully. Xia Tong nodded slightly, glancing at the new girl.

Once inside, Qing’er quickly instructed the others to fetch water. Seeing the young girl standing still, she gave her a pat, “What are you waiting for? Go inside and thank the master.”

Only then did the girl snap out of it. She lowered her head and walked in slowly but steadily.

The room was simply furnished, with a subtle feminine fragrance lingering in the air. Xia Tong was half-reclined on a soft couch, her delicate profile glowing faintly under the candlelight. Fang Yu stole a glance but dared not look again. Since her family’s downfall, she had witnessed the world’s indifference, never expecting someone would be willing to help her.

“My humble name is Fang Yu. Many thanks to the mistress for rescuing me today,” she bowed deeply. Having an excellent memory, she had already committed all the rules Qing’er taught her earlier to heart.

Xia Tong set down the book in her hand and smiled gently at the girl, who was kneeling in deference, “No need for such formalities. You don’t seem like someone used to hard labor. How did you end up in this state?”

Her expression was innocent. As if she knew nothing at all.

Upon hearing this, Fang Yu’s eyes flickered briefly. A trace of emotion crossed her fair face, but she responded respectfully, “Due to my family’s decline, my relatives passed away one after another. I came to the capital hoping to find other relatives, only to discover they had long moved away. Thus, I ended up wandering the streets. I owe you my deepest gratitude for saving me. I swear to serve you faithfully from now on.”

After she finished speaking, Xia Tong didn’t respond. She knew it was impossible for Fang Yu to open her heart completely right away. It would be better to take it slow, like boiling a frog in warm water, gradually gaining her trust.

At this point, the bathwater was ready. Xia Tong didn’t need anyone’s help with the bath and simply looked at the closed door. Fang Yu hesitated outside for a moment, her expression hard to read. She could tell this fourth young lady of the Xiahou family wasn’t a treacherous person, but why had she chosen to save only her?

The moon was bright, and the wind was gentle, but in the imperial palace, many of the candles had already been extinguished. The emperor’s health was poor, and the harem, long devoid of any power struggles, now felt like a lifeless pond, still and undisturbed.

However, in the central palace, the candles were still brightly lit. The grand and luxurious hall was quiet, with soft white smoke rising from an incense burner, filling the air with a calming fragrance.

On a soft couch, the Empress reclined, holding a white chess piece in her hand. She stared at the board, contemplating for a moment before placing the piece on a fiercely contested spot.

“Today, I went to Guanglu Temple and saw the fourth young lady of the Xiahou family. She’s quite a charming child.” The Empress raised her eyes slightly, her gaze calm as she looked at the man sitting across from her. “It’s about time to choose a Crown Princess. Do you have someone in mind?”

The man, with sharp features and a handsome face, merely placed a chess piece on the board without any visible emotion. “Mother, you may decide as you see fit.”

In reality, this game of chess should have ended long ago, but the young man, ever dutiful, had been prolonging it to keep her company. The Empress smiled warmly, her imposing aura softening in this moment, replaced by maternal care and affection.

“The girl from the Duke’s family is also nice, but I worry she may lack the grace needed to manage the inner palace. The fourth young lady from the Xiahou family, on the other hand, seems like someone who knows her place. She’s calm and composed, which suggests she’ll be able to manage the palace well. With Xia Zhian now back in the capital and holding a key position, having the Xiahou family as in-laws would provide you with support, but not too much. What do you think?” The Empress took a sip of her tea.

Xiao Jing remained expressionless. He recalled the woman he had seen at the bank the other day. After a pause, he replied indifferently, “I leave everything to Mother.”

In the past, when the Empress mentioned other noble daughters, her son always seemed uninterested. But this time, his maturity made her think he had likely met the fourth young lady of the Xiahou family somewhere before. With such an attractive and sensible girl, it was hard for anyone not to like her, and importantly, she wasn’t the type to cause trouble.

“Then I’ll talk to your father about this soon and see what he thinks,” the Empress said with a smile.

Xiao Jing remained silent, as if the matter of the Crown Princess didn’t concern him.

The night sky had grown darker, with clouds thickening and the moon slowly disappearing into the shadows. As Xiao Jing left the inner palace, the palace maids outside all bowed to send him off.

From within the inner palace, the Empress’ voice was just loud enough for a trained ear to hear. The man in black beside Xiao Jing glanced at his master with concern. “Are you really going to marry the fourth young lady of the Xiahou family?”

He had assumed that the position of Crown Princess would go to the Shen family’s daughter, as his master had been keeping an eye on her for some time.

In the dim light of the palace corridors, Xiao Jing’s upright figure moved steadily forward. His voice was calm, as if discussing something trivial. “It doesn’t matter who it is, as long as she doesn’t cause trouble.”

Having witnessed the endless power struggles within the imperial harem, Xiao Jing had no desire to live a life like his father’s, constantly caught between competing women. That girl, Xia Tong, didn’t seem like someone who would stir up trouble. That was enough for him.

*

Meanwhile, at a residence in the capital known for its fearsome reputation, candles still flickered late into the night. In a quiet and solemn study, a beautiful blue jade figurine sat atop a desk cluttered with official documents. Under the soft glow of candlelight, the jade appeared translucent and exquisite, clearly a rare treasure.

“Master, I’ve heard that the Crown Prince is also looking to claim a share. Should we send more men to Yingzhou?” A man in blue with a sword asked solemnly.

The man behind the desk, with cold and sharp features, kept his gaze on the jade figurine before him. His thin lips parted slightly, “If they can’t even handle a bunch of upstarts, what use do I have for such useless subordinates?”

Though his tone was calm, it carried a chilling edge. The blue-robed man immediately fell silent, fully aware that the men under him were not that incompetent.

Noticing his master’s lingering interest in the blue jade, the blue-robed man couldn’t help but add, “I’ve heard this is a secret treasure from the Migaoli tribe. It stays warm in the winter and cool in the summer, and is said to promote health and prevent illness. I will have someone make a new jade ring for you tomorrow.”

In the flickering candlelight, the blue jade seemed to emit a faint glow. The man’s dark eyes deepened, and he spoke in a low voice, “Have someone make a jade bracelet for me.”