Chapter 201 - The Princes Joined the Court

Unexpectedly, after a while, the two grand princesses put down the chopsticks and gargled with the tea served by the servants. Jinguo Grand Princess directly raised the tea bowl and saw off the guests, sending away all the people but Daiguo Grand Princess.

After getting out of the door, Song Yixiao deliberately slowed down and would like to talk with Commandery Princess Qingjiang. However, Commandery Princess Qingjiang and Princess Changxing headed towards another sideway together with their hands held together. It seemed that they were about to have a private talk.

In this case, Song Yixiao found it inappropriate to disturb them so she waited outside.

However, after waiting for quite a while, they still didn’t come out. She couldn’t help feeling suspicious, and then beckoned a servant in the grand princess’s mansion and gave an order. The servant took the order and after a while, she came back and reported, “Her Highness the Commandery Princess and Her Highness the Princess have gone out of the mansion through the side door!”

“She is avoiding me?” Song Yixiao was depressed in disbelief, “We got along well before. How come she is so estranged from me like this only after we didn’t meet with each other for a few days?”

She was sad for a while and then thought of her husband still waiting for her outside the gate. Hence, she composed herself and then left as if nothing had happened.

Actually, Commandery Princess Qingjiang did go out of the Grand Princess’s mansion through the side door with Princess Changxing but they didn’t go far.

“Alright. Changxing, now tell me where you are taking me to?” Watching the carriage get out of the alley, Commandery Princess Qingjiang finally couldn’t stand Princess Changxing’s perfunctory words anymore, “You know I’m really busy managing the affairs in the mansion. If you continue mystifying, I won’t go with you then!”

The Commandery Princess wanted to talk with Song Yixiao since she was having the feast. Unexpectedly, after the feast was over, before she called Song Yixiao, Princess Changxing claimed to take her to a must-go place. Commandery Princess Qingjiang didn’t like Princess Changxing for replacing Pei Yourui as the wife of Jian Yiyou, but Princess Changxing was still her cousin and sister-in-law. Of course, she wouldn’t suspect that Princess Changxing would hurt her.

Hence, Princess Changxing kept telling her that she would know when they arrived despite her asking for several times, she still put up with it until now.

However, the carriage was about to turn the corner. The carriage of Duke of Yan was ahead. Inevitably, Commandery Princess Qingjiang had to urge.

Unexpectedly, Princess Changxing also glanced at the carriage ahead and sneered, saying honestly, “In fact, I don’t mean to take you anywhere. I just want to stop you from talking with Yixiao!”

“What do you mean?” Commandery Princess Qingjiang didn’t expect to be fooled by Changxing so she couldn’t help feeling furious, “How dare you! Stop the carriage!”

Princess Changxing hastened to stop her and whispered to her in a low and rapid voice, “Now you want to talk about the Lantern Festival feast with her and offer her some suggestions. Yet, have you considered this? Yixiao is so forbearing at such a young age. Who knows whether she will overtly agree but covertly oppose or not?”

By then, “She cannot do anything against you. What if she vents her anger on Xubai?”

Commandery Princess Qingjiang was stunned and shouted, “Stop talking nonsense! What does the incident of the Lantern Festival feast have to do with Yixiao?”

“Do you still try to hide it from me?” Pulling her sleeves, Princess Changxing tried to stop her from getting off the carriage. With her eyes closely fixed on Commandery Princess Qingjiang, she said in a deep voice, “If the incident at the Lantern Festival feast has nothing to do with Yixiao, then why does Mother spend these days running around for it and trying to pour oil on the troubled waters? You always like Yixiao most but why did you distance yourself from her today?”

Before Commandery Princess Qingjiang answered her, she said, “I know I always dislike Yixiao. You are probably suspecting that I’m sowing discord between you deliberately! But you should believe that I’m really concerned about Xubai!”

With her face full of changed countenance, Commandery Princess Qingjiang shouted in a low voice, “You mustn’t say things like that anymore! Don’t forget that you are Yiyou’s wife. If he learns about what you have said today, how will he feel then?”

The Commandery Princess scolded Princess Changxing, but she didn’t ask the servant to stop the carriage of Duke of Yan anymore. Obviously, somehow she did listen to Princess Changxing’s words.

Princess Changxing agreed obediently and yet looked down to cover the scheming glint in her eyes, “Song Yixiao! I’ll make you pay sooner or later. Do you really think that I will keep losing to you?”

She would try her best to drag Commandery Princess Qingjiang to her side so that she could find out whether Song Yixiao could keep prospering without Commandery Princess Qingjiang’s support and mediation before Jinguo Grand Princess.

How could Song Yixiao know it was Princess Changxing who placed obstacles in the way?

On the way back to Duke of Yan’s mansion, Song Yixiao was ruminating on the reason why Commandery Princess Qingjiang changed her attitude to her, which was seen through by Jian Xubai, “Do you have anything in your mind?”

“Of course not,” Song Yixiao hastily covered up her thought and said, “I just feel that I’m a little tired!”

Amidst saying, she rested her head against his shoulder. Now she didn’t mean to hide it from her husband. The fight over the throne was officially started. Jian Xubai was worried about internal and external troubles that the Crown Prince was facing. It was not necessary to involve her husband into the conflict between relatives.

Maybe she could solve it in a few days?

After returning to the mansion, Song Yixiao didn’t immediately send a visiting card to Commandery Princess Qingjiang. Instead, she sent Qiaoqin away to Duke of Lai’s mansion to give a warning to Xie Yiren, “According to Cousin Xishi, the backyard in Earl Yiping’s mansion is under the control of his father’s concubine. Since she dares to sow discord between Xishi and us, she must be scheming. Yiren, please take precautions!”

Qiaoqin returned with a pair of palace sashes, “Ms. Xie is grateful to you. When I arrived, she happened to be selecting palace sashes so she also chose two for Your Highness and asked me to bring them for you.”

Song Yixiao fetched them and took a look at them, “These two colors are bright. I can use them when it gets warmer!”

Then she handed them over to Jinxun and asked her to put them away. Nothing else happened on the day.

The next day was the birthday of Elder Lady Cao.

After the morning court, Jian Xubai specially asked for half a day’s leave and accompanied her to the Wei Family for congratulations.

Due to Song Yixiao’s reminder, the birthday feast that was supposedly held in a big scale turned out to be low-key.

However, Jian Xubai’s arrival did liven the feast up. Yet, in the middle of the feast, the servant of Duke of Yan’s mansion came and whispered to Jian Xubai with a stern face.

Afterwards, Jian Xubai only frowned and talked as usual, but since he was in the limelight now, every act and every move of his was seen by all.

“If anything comes up, he may leave first!” Elder Lady Cao thought for a while and then said to Song Yixiao quietly, “Don’t delay real business for me. I’m very happy that you can come today!”

Song Yixiao glanced at her husband and saw that he seemed outwardly composed. Hence, she couldn’t tell what the servant reported. When she was thinking about how to respond, Jian Xubai noticed her reaction. Then he raised his head and smiled at Elder Lady Cao, saying, “It is only a trifle of the mansion. Our servant has no sense of politeness. Please don’t take it amiss if any inconvenience is caused!”

Then he raised the wine cup to Elder Lady Cao and drank up the wine as a gesture of apology.

“It’s okay!” Elder Lady Cao surely declared that she wouldn’t mind. However, it was known among the people in the imperial capital that the affairs in Duke of Yan’s mansion were in the charge of Song Yixiao. If anything happened in the mansion, the report should be directly given to Song Yixiao!

“There must be something wrong! Xubai wants to show respect for his wife so he said that with studied understatement!” Elder Lady Cao pondered. After being silent for a while, she signaled her maids to hold her up and said, “I’m slightly drunk. Now excuse me for leaving first. No offense!”

As she left, the guests could leave without appearing rude. As expected, shortly after Jian Xubai and his wife rose and saw the other guests off, they also found a chance to leave.

Upon getting out of the Wei Family’s mansion, Song Yixiao hastened to ask what the servant reported. Jian Xubai looked so indifferent that it was hard to tell whether he was delighted or angry. He answered, “Uncle just issued an imperial decree that during his rest, the Crown Prince should act as regent.”

Whether the Crown Prince could do the job, while Emperor Xianjia couldn’t oversee the court himself, the imperial decree was a good thing for the Crown Prince.

Unfortunately, another imperial decree followed, “Prince of Wei, Prince of Liang and Prince of Zhao should join the court to share the Crown Prince’s burdens!”

“Three princes all join the court?” Song Yixiao asked in surprise, “Since last year, the news has been spread that Prince of Zhao would join the court. Prince of Wei also has Aunt Daiguo’s constant support. This time, His Majesty also asks Prince of Liang to join the court. Does he do it because he wants to find a helper for the Crown Prince out of concern?”

After all, Prince of Liang was the younger brother of the Crown Prince.

“The three princes are not old now. Even Prince of Zhao whole-heartedly taught by the Su Family, who gains favorable comments among the officials, is not scheming enough,” Jian Xubai shook his head and said, “This matter can be put aside temporarily. At the moment, the big problem is Prince of Yi!”

Song Yixiao said confusedly, “Prince of Yi is not mentioned in the imperial decree.”

However, when she saw the cold profile of her husband, she suddenly took a tumble, “It’s about the investigation on Cui Jianlian’s case that has been assigned to Prince of Yi?”

“Back then, Uncle is fine. Of course Prince of Yin must act as suggested by Uncle,” Jian Xubai nodded his head and said, “But now Uncle needs to rest quietly. If the Crown Prince couldn’t suppress Qiu Shuxia and Prince of Yi is such a coward…”

He didn’t continue talking but Song Yixiao had understood what he meant. Due to Liu Zhenxi’s sudden confession, the Crown Prince’s side, which was caught off guard, was in a passive position.

With a preference for the Crown Prince, Emperor Xianjia assigned the investigation to a pushover, Prince of Yi, which allowed the Crown Prince’s side to take a breath.

However, without the direct guidance of Emperor Xianjia, it remained unknown which side Prince of Yi would turn to. If he sided with Qiu Shuxia, the consequence of the Crown Prince’s side was imaginable!

Song Yixiao was pondering when she heard a guard report outside the carriage, “Your Highness, someone of the Crown Prince comes and claims that the Crown Prince hopes to meet you in the Eastern Palace right now!”

Obviously, the Crown Prince also noticed the following plight and it was time to find out the solution with his aides and staff!

Jian Xubai responded with yes and kissed on his wife’s hair, saying in a low voice, “If it is too late, you just sleep first. No need to wait for me. Promise me!”

Song Yixiao watched him get off the carriage, ride on the horse and leave. She heaved a sigh and leaned against the beam of the carriage, “Return to the mansion!”

After she returned to Duke of Yan’s mansion, she went into the inner chamber and put on a suit of ordinary dress. A maid reported, “Third Master sends someone to tell that Elder Lady Duanmu will probably arrive at the imperial capital on the 7th day of the second lunar month, on which His Highness should spare half of a day and receive her outside the capital!”

“Noted.” Song Yixiao nodded her head, “Send someone to Uncle Limiao’s mansion and inquire about Elder Lady Duanmu’s hobbies so that we can make preparations.”

After sending away the servant, Song Yixiao thought of her husband’s worried facial expression when it came to Elder Lady Duanmu, for which she couldn’t help ruminating, “Now he has a lot in his mind. The new matter will surely make him more annoyed. Shall I tell him in a few days?”