Chapter 58: The sudden Ally

Minister Zhu's mansion 

Zhu Feifei looked up quickly, she balled up her fist and ground her teeth a little before finally saying "it is cold out here, let us talk inside". She went into the room not bothering to check if Zhu Fenfang followed her into the room.

Zhu mansion's servants were all very efficient, by the time Zhu Feifei returned to her room everything was in order. Zhu Feifei dismissed all the servants including her first ranked maids, soon it was only she and Zhu Fenfang that remained in the room.

Zhu Feifei sat on the master's seat and directed Zhu Fenfang to the seat by her right, "Don't make me strain my neck, Have a seat".

Zhu Fenfang smiled and walked to the seat, She was aware that Zhu Feifei was only acting tough and found her little games amusing. Zhu Feifei and madam Zhu were both similar, they both relied on artificial tricks to show their superiority. 

Zhu Feifei put on a reserved expression as she occupied the master's seat, as a ploy to exact her authority as the sixth Princess Consort. While that would have been intimidating for anyone else, Zhu Fenfang just found it pathetic. 

Everyone in the capital was aware of the real condition of her so-called position, Zhu Feifei may throw her weight around as the sixth Princess Consort but everyone was aware that she Has no real power in the sixth Prince's mansion.

Zhu Feifei flexed her hands "I haven't got time to waste on you, why are you here".

Zhu Fenfang laughed softly "why are you so impatient Sister Feifei? It has been a while, why don't we catch up first".

Zhu Feifei slapped the arm of the chair loudly and sat up "If you have nothing useful to say, just leave. It has been a long day, I am exhausted". She made a move to leave when Zhu Fenfang said

"Do you know who I ran into on my way to my room" 

Zhu Feifei let out a breath "I don't have time to play these games". 

"I ran into his highness and Su Liya at the garden"

"What!"

"They looked a little too close. I wouldn't have said anything if it wasn't his highness"

Zhu Feifei sat on the seat exasperated "What do you mean? Have you seen her with someone else?"

"I once saw her with third brother"

"Elder brother..... and Su Liya?" Zhu Feifei leaned back on the cushioned seat.

"I was also surprised to see that but since sister Fengyin was getting married, I didn't see the need to make it an issue but now that I caught her with his highness. I can't let it go" 

"That slut, how dare she?" Zhu Feifei sat forward.

"We have to do something about her before it gets out of hand. I think that we should tell sister Fengyin" Zhu Fengyin said.

"Why?"

"Su Liya is her maid, what if she targets the Duke too. Sister Fengyin just got married, this kind of thing can ruin the husband and wife relationship".

Zhu Feifei watched Zhu Fenfang, trying to find out if she was pretending to care but after a few minutes she couldn't find anything. As expected this foolish sister of hers, was just too naive. She took Fengyin as her eldest sister, did Zhu Fenfang not have a selfish bone in her body.

"Don't worry about Sister Fengyin, I will inform her. It is getting late, gets some sleep", Zhu Feifei said to dismiss Zhu Fenfang quickly.

"Since you have the situation at hand, I will take my leave. Good night sister Feifei" Zhu Fenfang said cheerfully and left the room. Zhu Fenfang smiled until she had left Zhu Feifei's courtyard, the smile slipped away as soon as she was a short distance away from the courtyard.

Zhu Fenfang paused and swore "Fool!"

Her maid Xiao Chu pulsed her lips gently, then with a tiny voice asked "Did things not go as you planned mistress?" 

"No, it did. I am just a little angry, talking to people as conceited as Zhu Feifei makes one like this".

Xiao Chu grabbed her hands "don't get mad mistress, since your plan is working".

Patting her maids hands gently, Zhu Fenfang smiled and said "Don't worry about me, I am okay. I should thank you for the part you played. I would have never discovered that the sixth Prince kept looking at Su Liya during the family dinner if you didn't let me know"

"Aiyo mistress there is no need for that. I was just lucky, I know how much Su Liya hurt you. She deserves to suffer. I just hope that second mistress doesn't find out that we lied about the sixth Prince meeting Su Liya this night"

"Don't worry, that won't happen. The Sixth Prince is a known playboy, Zhu Feifei wouldn't doubt otherwise. That's the thing with people like Zhu Feifei, they are often too emotional and lose sight of these little things. 

"See the mess at the sixth Prince mansion, if Zhu Feifei wasn't such a temperamental fool, would a mere concubine like Madam Qu best her so easily. Zhu Feifei's jealousy would lead to her downfall" Zhu Fenfang said laughing softly.

******

Zhu Feifei waited all through the night for the Sixth Prince to return but he never did. By the next morning, her imagination had gone wild. As soon as it was 7 am Zhu Feifei ran out of her room and rushed to her mother's Courtyard.

She had no idea where her husband spent the night but she had her suspicion. Zhongshan Cheng was too difficult for her to handle alone, she needed her mother's guidance. Madam Zhu was having breakfast when she arrived.

Madam Zhu instructed the servants to get another set of breakfast for Zhu Feifei, when it was all set they stepped back. Zhu Feifei was so worried about what Zhu Fenfang told her, she barely ate anything.

Madam Zhu noticing her daughter's strange behaviour sent the maids away but not before ordering them to remove the dishes. Madam Zhu waited till everyone was out, "Feifei, what is it. Why aren't you eating?"

Zhu Feifei teared up as soon as she saw her mother's worried expression. Madam Zhu rushed forward and hugged her daughter close "Don't cry my daughter, mother is here. Tell me what is wrong"

Zhu Feifei snorted and burrowed into her mother's embrace, it had been months since she had been held this way by her mother. She missed her mother's warm embrace.

"It is so lonely at the sixth Prince mansion, mother. His Highness doesn't love me, he keeps visiting those sluts at the side Courtyard. Whenever I visit the imperial consort, she just keeps lecturing me to be more virtuous. It is bad enough that I have to deal with that slut Madam Qu but now there is Su Liya. The Sixth Prince didn't sleep in the room last night since he left to meet that slut Su Liyaaaa!"

Madam Zhu pulled away slightly "what!" 

Zhu Feifei choked out "Mother what do I do. It's so painful, I can't stand it anymore".

"Don't worry mum will handle everything" 

*****

Meanwhile at Zhu Fenfang's rooms.

As the maids cleared the plates from breakfast away, Xiao Chu ran in and whispered into her mistress's ears "young mistress wen Xiang in madam's rooms reported that the second young mistress rushed to madam's room early this morning and is just going out".

Zhu Fenfang smiled "Really? How wonderful" She waited for the maids to all leave before continuing "Have her monitor all of madam Zhu's moves"

"Yes mistress".