The legitimate daughter returns to the capital and embarks on a splendid life, tearing apart the fak

Consort Shu quickly shook her head, her tone tinged with apology: "Your Majesty, you misunderstand. I'm not forcing you, I'm begging you. I know Fan'er is disappointing and doesn't meet your standards. But he's my son, and I can't help but think of his future."

The eldest princess waved her hand and said calmly, "Consort Shu, there's no need for such talk. I ask you, if Fan'er doesn't fight for his cause, what will happen to the people under his command? They've followed him for so many years, what have they been after? You should know the answer in your heart."

Consort Shu sighed, her voice tinged with bitterness: "Your Majesty is right. Those people follow Fan'er because they want to serve the emperor and rise to prominence. But I can't care about that. I just want Fan'er to live."

The eldest princess was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed: "Sister, you are just too honest."

She paused, then changed the subject, "I won't interfere with the Yun family girl's marriage. As for the others—"

She stood up, straightened her clothes, and said, "We'll talk about it later. I need to go back to see Min'er, so I won't stay any longer."

Consort Shu's heart sank, knowing that the Princess was just giving her a perfunctory answer.

But she had no other choice. If Fan'er didn't marry Ya Min, he would offend the Princess. But Ya Min's heart wasn't with her son. Was she going to marry a woman who had another man in her heart to disgust her son?

She could only force a smile and stand up, saying, "This Empress is seeing off my elder sister."

The two walked out one after the other. When they reached the door, the Princess suddenly stopped and turned to look at Consort Shu: "Consort Shu, there is something I am not sure if I should say."

Consort Shu's heart skipped a beat, but she smiled and said, "Please speak, Your Majesty."

The eldest princess looked at her and said, word by word, "You must hurry up with Fan'er's marriage, sister. I think that girl from the Yun family is quite good. As for that position..."

She paused for a moment, then said, "You still have to fight for what you should fight for. If you don't, others won't let you off the hook."

After saying this, she didn't wait for Consort Shu's reply, turned around, and took the hand of the female official to get into the sedan chair.

Consort Shu stood at the door, watching the sedan chair disappear into the distance, her smile gradually fading.

She turned and went back to the inner palace, leaned against the couch, closed her eyes, and unconsciously tapped her fingers on the table.

Was the princess's last sentence a reminder to her, or a test?

When she said, "We should still fight for what we should fight for," was she supporting Fan'er's fight, or was she just saying it casually?

Consort Shu thought about it for a long time but couldn't figure it out. But she knew that the Princess hadn't completely ruled out anything, which was a good thing. As long as she didn't stop her, there was still hope for Fan'er.

She opened her eyes and called out, "Someone, summon Lord Yunheting's eldest daughter to the palace tomorrow. I wish to see her."

The lady-in-waiting responded and turned to leave.

Consort Shu decided that before requesting the imperial decree, she should still meet with Yunxiu and give her a warning.

……

Yun Jin and Shen Qingyun were enjoying themselves at the villa. Now that she was known as Miss Bai, she could come and go freely in and out of the villa.

Xiao Jingyan was worried about her safety, so he had Dongxue change her clothes to accompany her.

Having Dongxue around is indeed very convenient. She can stay informed about news in the city and relay it out promptly.

That afternoon, Yun Jin had just woken up from her nap when Dong Xue came in from outside and told her about Zheng Jie.

That day, the Eldest Princess invited Marquis Jingyuan and Prince Zhennan to her residence for a banquet, and also specially invited Consort Zheng to her residence.

Zheng Jie thought she had won the favor of the princess, so she dressed up beautifully and went there.

The carriage stopped in front of the Princess's residence.

Zheng Jie got out of the carriage, and her maid led her through the hanging flower gate, around the screen wall, and straight towards the side courtyard.

Zheng Jie was a little puzzled, but she didn't dare to ask any questions and just followed with her head down.

The flower hall in the side courtyard is not large, but its furnishings are extremely exquisite.

The eldest princess sat at the head of the table, holding a teacup, and was talking to two middle-aged men.

Zheng Jie glanced at them quickly; both men were in their thirties or forties. She didn't dare look at them for long and stepped forward to give a deep bow: "Your subject Zheng Jie greets Your Highness the Princess."

The eldest princess put down her teacup, smiled, and beckoned to her: "You've arrived? Get up quickly and come sit down."

Zheng Jie was flattered and quickly stood up to sit down at the end of the table.

As soon as she sat down, the eldest princess spoke, her tone casual as if she were saying, "Miss Zheng, this is the Marquis of Jingyuan, and this is the Prince of Zhennan. They are both my distinguished guests, so please entertain them well for me."

Zheng Jie was stunned. Before she could react, the maid beside her had already shoved the wine pot into her hand. She froze. She was the legitimate daughter of the Zheng family; how could the Princess possibly ask her to pour wine?

But she didn't dare refuse. She gritted her teeth, picked up the wine pot, and poured wine for Marquis Jingyuan and Prince Zhennan respectively. The two were quite well-behaved and even nodded politely to her, which made her feel a little relieved.

After several rounds of drinks, the eldest princess put down her teacup and waved to Zheng Jie, saying, "You've worked hard, Miss Zheng. Go and rest. I'd like to speak with the Marquis and the Prince."

Zheng Jie breathed a sigh of relief, curtsied, and withdrew.

After she left, the eldest princess's gaze swept over the faces of Marquis Jingyuan and Prince Zhennan, and she said with a smile, "I've heard that the household affairs of both of you are now being managed by your concubines? Don't you plan to find a second wife?"

Marquis Jingyuan put down his wine cup and replied with a smile, "Please forgive me, Your Highness, but my wife passed away not long ago, and I do not wish to remarry for the time being."

The eldest princess nodded, not forcing the matter, and then turned her gaze to the Prince of Zhennan.

Prince Zhennan quickly put down his wine cup, leaned forward, and said with a smile, "If Your Highness has a suitable candidate, I would be willing to consider it."

The eldest princess smiled, picked up her teacup, took a sip, and said unhurriedly, "Far away yet right before my eyes. The girl who poured the wine just now is the second young lady of the Zheng family, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, a legitimate daughter. Although her family background is not high, she is upright, gentle, and virtuous."

The Prince of Zhennan's eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly: "Good, good. Thank you for your kindness, Princess. I am willing."

The eldest princess put down her teacup and said with a smile, "In that case, I'll take care of this. Your Highness, please go back and wait for good news."

The Prince of Zhennan laughed heartily: "In that case, I will go back and await Your Highness's good news."

Zheng Jie, who was outside the door, overheard the entire conversation.

She had just left when she suddenly remembered that she had left her handkerchief in the side hall. She turned back to retrieve it and happened to overhear this conversation.

She was trembling all over and could barely stand.

She wanted to rush in, to say she didn't want to, to say she would rather die than marry that old man.

But she dared not. Biting her lip, she stumbled and staggered, practically fleeing the Princess's residence. Once in the carriage, she covered her mouth, trembling all over, and tears streamed down her face. She murmured, "I don't want to marry that old man, I want to marry Prince Yu..."