Chapter 59-Part 2

After a while, footsteps echoed from the long corridor, and both Tian Ying and Cao Xi wore expressions of anticipation, eager to meet the Crown Prince.

But Jiang Xiurun, upon hearing those footsteps, felt a sense of unease.

Having served Feng Liwu for so long, she knew that the Crown Prince usually carried himself with a cold and indifferent demeanor.

His steps were long and steady, never rushed.

But now, his familiar footsteps were noticeably quicker, a clear sign that he was irritated.

This Crown Prince was certainly not one to be gentle with women.

Even on his wedding day, he had found something to be angry about.

Jiang Xiurun couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for the two women who would soon be spending their lives with him.

When Feng Liwu’s strikingly handsome face appeared in the hall, Jiang Xiurun stole a glance and confirmed her suspicion—he was indeed furious, his eyes filled with barely contained anger.

It turned out that although the Crown Prince had dismissed the maids and attendants of the two princesses, Empress Wei had sent a female official to deliver a message to him.

She said that on the first night of the wedding, where the Crown Prince chose to stay would affect Princess Cao Xi’s reputation.

Even if Cao Xi wasn’t his favored one, he should still give her face.

Not only that, but to prevent the Crown Prince from merely paying lip service, the Empress had also sent a “nourishing” bowl of soup to her son, supervised by the female official to ensure he drank it—meant to boost his energy for the night.

Furthermore, she ordered the two female officials she had sent to oversee the princesses from Han and Bo states to make sure they adhered to the rules of the Qi royal court and didn’t inadvertently anger the Empress in the future.

This arrangement, placing two overseers on the wedding night, was clearly intended to disrupt the chances of the other two princesses gaining the Crown Prince’s favor, ensuring her niece Cao Xi would get the upper hand and benefit from the night.

Empress Wei, fully aware of her son’s temperament, knew that he harbored resentment towards her. But maintaining appearances of filial piety was paramount. Thus, the “nourishing” soup was sent under the guise of an imperial gift from the Emperor himself, making it difficult for Feng Liwu to refuse.

Once the fire was lit, there had to be someone to extinguish it.

With the two others out of the picture, even if the Crown Prince didn’t particularly care for Cao Xi, he would still have to go along with it for the night.

Seizing this first opportunity could lead to pregnancy, and when that happened, the position of Crown Princess would surely be Cao Xi’s.

Empress Wei had long been accustomed to controlling her son, and even though Feng Liwu was now a grown man, she still viewed him as the same silent, obedient child in the Cold Palace who allowed her to vent her frustrations at will.

What she didn’t realize was that the very bowl of soup she sent had effectively ruined her niece’s chance of earning the Crown Prince’s favor.

As Feng Liwu sat down, he cast his gaze over the three women before him.

Cao Xi blushed deeply, shyly glancing at him, but her timid demeanor stirred no emotion in Feng Liwu. The faint herbal taste still lingering in his mouth only made him feel a sense of revulsion as he looked at her.

Tian Ying, on the other hand, appeared more pleasing with her light makeup and fresh elegance.

If he hadn’t already witnessed her treacherous side during Master Mufeng’s tea gathering—where she had hidden malice behind her smiles—he might have considered her.

But now, she too irked him for reasons he couldn’t quite explain.

Lastly, there was the one who was trying hard to keep her eyes wide open, though she was clearly sleepy and looked rather listless.

How many layers of powder had been applied to that face?

The fine skin was so covered that it barely reflected any light, and the rouge was laid on so thickly… Yet despite this gaudy appearance, why did she still look so radiant?

So captivating that he couldn’t seem to look away.

He had heard that, just outside the residence, this woman had caused such a commotion among the commoners that they had crowded and jostled, toppling a melon vendor’s stand.

She must be quite the troublemaker.

He’d have to admonish her later—there was no need for such striking beauty to draw attention.

If that’s what she liked, she should only dress this way for him…

As Feng Liwu sat there with a gloomy expression, lost in thought for a moment, he suddenly said, “Earlier in the study, Madam Zhao, the female official, brought the nourishing soup, but the two maids she brought with her carelessly knocked over my inkstone from the desk. That inkstone was an imperial gift, and even those by my mother’s side shouldn’t act so presumptuously. It is inappropriate to witness bloodshed on such an auspicious day—have them bagged and thrown into the pond.”

Madam Zhao, who stood beside Cao Xi with an air of dignity, suddenly turned pale—after all, it was the Crown Prince himself who had knocked over that inkstone!