Chapter 187: Chapter 187 - Counter-blow of the Noble Consort

“According to the imperial rules, only the concubines above the officially third-rank are considered as consorts, who can live in the main room, manage a palace and raise the imperial descendants!” Yuan Xuepei heaved a sigh, “Hypothetically, Princess Feinuan is only promoted by two grades and remains as a side fourth-rank talented lady. Even if she gives birth to a baby for His Majesty, she can only be promoted to a side third-rank concubine due to pregnancy and labor. It happens that she won’t be eligible to raise her own child!”

Although it hadn’t been a month since Feinuan miscarried last time, she was adored by the emperor now and she was much healthier than the ladies of the Great Rui. If there was no accident, she would get pregnant again soon.

“Moreover, there is no leading consort in the Palace of Lanqiu she resides at,” Jian Xubai said, “Therefore, my auntie can adopt her child if any!”

If there was any leading consort in the Palace of Lanqiu, the consort had a prior claim to raise the children of the concubines who lived in her palace.

For example, the birth mother of Prince of Wei was an imperial concubine of the Palace of Mingguang. After he was born, he was carried to Virtuous Consort Jiang by rule without even being looked at his birth mother.

However, in the palace without a leading consort, if the concubine conceived any child, it would be the empress to decide the raiser. Of course, the empress could be the raiser too!

Clearly, Empress Su wished to threaten the mother with her child so she promoted Feinuan by two grades, which seemed a nice gesture on the surface. In fact, she aimed to take Feinuan’s future child as hostage as Feinuan couldn’t raise it even if she had one.

Unexpectedly, Noble Consort Cui had seen through the Empress’s mind so she forced the Empress to promote Feinuan by one grade on the ground that Feinuan used to miscarry!

In this case, Feinuan became an officially fourth-rank beautiful lady. Once she was pregnant, she could be promoted to a side third-rank concubine; when the baby was delivered, she would be an officially third-rank jieyu!

By then, the empress couldn’t take her child away. Besides, she was adored by the emperor, why would she be loyal to the empress?

Noble Consort Cui did make trouble for the Empress this time, but if Feinuan accumulated her power and delivered a baby boy, wouldn’t the Crown Prince be affected?

“Supposedly, the Noble Consort did so not only to create difficulty for the Empress,” Yuan Xuepei said with a frown, “The Empress Dowager and the two Grand Princesses are all afraid that what happened in the previous dynasty may happen again. Princess Feinuan was only a lady in obscurity, which was tolerable to them. However, now she not only interferes with the matter of fighting for the throne but also has a chance of becoming a jieyu and managing a palace solely. How can the Empress Dowager and the two Grand Princesses allow her to be alive?”

“But the consent by Aunt Daiguo and the Noble Consort couldn’t be compared to my grandmother’s disapproval!” Jian Xubai said with a stern face, “Moreover, Aunt Daiguo also wished that Grandmother could stop it just in case of any lurking threats. It must be Uncle! Otherwise, Princess Feinuan can’t be promoted by three grades!”

It was the Empress Dowager’s idea not to promote Princess Feinuan for pregnancy!

Hence, how could the Empress Dowager approve of promoting her by three grades?

“Over the past more than one year, His Majesty hasn’t paid much attention to her. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be so unknown to the public!” Yuan Xuepei pinched his eyebrows and murmured, “How come she just stands out now?”

Nevertheless, when he thought of Princess Feinuan’s stunning appearance, he smiled bitterly, “Alas! Since she has won the emperor’s heart, it is not easy for us to get rid of her despite her identity as an imperial concubine only, at least we cannot do it openly! We have to take precautions against being framed!”

Speaking that, Yuan Xuepei changed his countenance and then checked the doors and windows, saying in a lower voice, “When we were in Wuhuan, the king of Wuhuan mentioned marrying Princess Feinuan to you. Does the Noble Consort and the Crown Prince know about that?”

Jian Xubai understood what he was talking about. After thinking for a while, he said, “This is a private matter, which is also related to a girl’s reputation, so I’ve never told them. However, even if they do, they won’t publicize it only to get rid of Princess Feinuan. After all, it remains unknown whether it is worthwhile. Besides, it was the king of Wuhuan’s idea and Princess Feinuan can absolve herself from it by saying that it was only her father’s own decision but not hers. In this case, how can Uncle suspect her?”

Yuan Xuepei also understood that, but his reminder was out of another reason, “Actually, it was because Princess Feinuan fell for you that she asked the king of Wuhuan to set you up, but you declined the offer for no feelings for her. The matter was left unsettled after a few days’ deadlock! At that time, Princess Feinuan was still a noble princess in Wuhuan. She suffered such a blow but she could still remain pure. However, now…”

Now Princess Feinuan lost her home and country with no relatives, who was even faced with the brutality in the imperial harem. Maybe she would bear grudge against Jian Xubai for love?

“Your wife’s issue has driven a wedge between the Noble Consort and her son. With this problem too, I’m afraid that the relationship between you and the Crown Prince may go sour although you two are cousins!” Yuan Xuepei said seriously, “I don’t mean to speculate that the Crown Prince is narrow-minded. It is true that you grew up in the imperial palace and often met with him, but you two were separated for six years. Besides, unlike His Majesty, he always lives a smooth life!”

The Crown Prince was entitled as the heir of the emperor, who lived under the wing of Emperor Xianjia. Upon encountering a critical setback all of a sudden, of course he could hardly adjust his mood.

However, Song Yixiao’s counterplot provided a chance for the lurking princess of Wuhuan. Moreover, if Feinuan gained power and vent her anger on the Crown Prince for being rejected by Jian Xubai, the Crown Prince would probably attribute his predicament to Jian Xubai and his wife!

“By then, even if he still tolerates you in consideration of Jinguo Grand Princess and the Empress Dowager, no disrespect intended, they are old anyway!”

Yuan Xuepei sighed, “I don’t mean to criticize Madam Song. No matter how much she appreciates her maid’s loyalty, what she did was too reckless! Of course it was my fault too. If I didn’t meddle in that issue, her maid wouldn’t suffer then!”

He hedged and met Jian Xubai’s eyes. In a hurry, he said, “Now that it has happened, we had better discuss about how to deal with the aftermath. In my opinion, Beautiful Lady Nuan must be eradicated as soon as possible! In this way, it can avoid the Crown Prince’s distancing from you to the greatest degree!”

“Clearly, my uncle has fallen for her. If we do anything against her now, we can only cause trouble for the Crown Prince!” Jian Xubai stayed silent for a while and then shook his head, saying, “Moreover, as the imperial palace is watched by my grandmother, she cannot stir up big trouble then!”

“Mother asks me to deal with Jin Suke and the Jin Family for the Crown Prince. Today I paid a visit to Jin Suke. He reviewed the evidence I showed to him and directly agreed with a nod! But he also put forward a few requirements. I’m thinking about how to agree on his requirements. I invite you here to discuss about it.”

By evening, Yuan Xuepei finally returned to Marquis Boling’s mansion.

At the second gate, Yuan Xue’e, who had been waiting for a long time, was delighted to see Yuan Zhan wheel his brother inside and hurriedly paced forward, “Brother, you are finally back!”

She walked to the wheelchair, passed the heating stove to him immediately and covered the blanket on Yuan Xuepei’s knees well. When she saw the snowflakes on the blanket, she couldn’t help groaning, “Duke Jian has gone too far! Why did he insist you on discussing in Duke of Yan’s mansion? Can’t he come to our home? Why did he ask you to go out on such a cold day?”

Yuan Xuepei looked at his sister mumbling around him and said gently, “He is upset now but he doesn’t dare to flare up, so he can only talk to me in a place familiar to himself in case of losing his temper!”

He couldn’t help sighing, “Princess Feinuan is such a stunning beauty but she couldn’t flip Xubai’s heart by pledging to marry him back then. On the contrary, Madam Song can make Xubai attach such importance to her! Xue’e, you should follow her example after getting married!”

“What about Shanyao now?” Yuan Xue’e heard that and asked with concern, “Is she okay? Did the Grand Princess and Duke Jian… hassle her?”

Yuan Xuepei heard that and frowned, saying unhappily, “I thought you were waiting here for me out of worry but it turned out that you are actually worried your bestie?”

“Alas! Brother, of course I’m waiting for you!” Yuan Xue’e hastened to hold his arms and said like a spoiled child, “You look fine so I’m relieved and have time to care about Shanyao.”

“Rest assured. The Grand Princess took her to the Grand Princess’s mansion last night and let her return to her own mansion today. Does it look like a punishment?” With Yuan Xuepei’s eyes glistening, he sneered, “As to Xubai, didn’t I tell you just now? Xubai is so mad now but he is afraid of bearing grudge after being angry with her, so he holds back his anger to talk nicely with her!”

Yuan Xue’e was finally relieved and then asked worriedly, “There are various versions of rumors. Cui Jianlian is the chief culprit, but as the matter becomes serious, will the royal family shift the target on Shanyao?”

“It’s hard to say, but you know, Jinguo Grand Princess holds a high position in the royal family and currently, the Crown Prince won’t bother to piss off this aunt,” Yuan Xuepei said, “Therefore, I think she will be fine.”

He hedged and changed the topic, “Does our grandmother take any action these days?”

“The day before yesterday, Second Aunt came again and talked with Grandmother in the room for a while. God knows what they were scheming against!” Yuan Xue’e was immediately distracted without doubts.

While talking, they entered the house. Yuan Xuepei listened to his sister talk about the actions by Elder Lady Tu and Madam Liang, gave some comments and asked her back to her own embroidery compound for settlement on the ground that it was too late.

After his sister left, the softness in his eyes just vanished. He stayed silent for a while and then said to Yuan Zhan, who was serving aside, “Ask about whether any of the young and single guards, who also looks okay without parents, is willing to do something for me. I will give him a generous reward!”

Yuan Zhan hastened to ask, “Your Excellency, what do you want him to do?”

“To marry Madam Song’s disabled maid!” Yuan Xuepei had a cold glint in his eyes, “It is part of my fault to cause the maid’s disability! Madam Song’s scheme didn’t include me perhaps due to Xue’e and Xubai. I suppose that she meant to let Jinguo Grand Princess and Xubai deal with the aftermath at the beginning so she excluded me purposefully!”

“Think about it. How old was she seven years ago? Such a girl good at forbearing is deeply adored by Xubai!”

“If I do anything against her, I cannot hide it from Xubai. By then, won’t our relationship be ruined? But I didn’t successfully instigate Xubai to loathe her just now. After all, I cannot keep taking precautions against her all the time?”

Yuan Xuepei pinched his eyebrows wearily, “What else can I do but to apologize and make amends? Madam Song is a first-rank titled lady now. Under her protection, that maid must be able to live a well-off life. Now what she needs must be a good husband!”

“Duke Jian is so disappointing!” Seeing the tired look of his master in the wheelchair, Yuan Zhan said in anger, “How long have you been friends with him? Take your legs for instance. How could your legs be disabled but for him? Madam Song didn’t marry Duke Jian until last September. Now she has caused such serious trouble for a disabled maid that even Her Highness the Grand Princess is in a sorry plight. He doesn’t dispose of this troublesome woman and even acquiesces in her threatening you!”

“If I didn’t try my best to get along with him, do you think we could live until now?” Yuan Xuepei gave a look of self-mockery and said, “No need to mention the years’ friendship between him and me. Actually, it is me who got him into hanging out with me because I didn’t want to follow in my parents’ steps. In light of his power, I finally survived and kept my position as the marquis!”

As to his disability, “Rather than being caused by him, it was…”

He hedged and didn’t complete the sentence. Instead, he only said, “A couple’s love is superior to friendship. Moreover, Xubai and Song Yixiao are still newly wedded. How can he hurt her mercilessly?”

Moreover, “If a guard’s suffering wrong can bury the hatchet, why do I have to oppose against him?”

As to the guard who would suffer grievance, in light of his identity, it was easy to compensate for him.

Yuan Xuepei decided to swallow his pride. After ordering Yuan Zhan to work on it, he leaned backwards and had a rest with his eyes closed, pondering to himself, “Madam Song is so forbearing and vengeful, so she must be skeptical! She and Xubai are closely associated so she must be sure that Xubai will defend for her. After all, how can Wei Mengying’s daughter not have the confidence?”

The problem was, “She disregards Xubai’s prospect like this. Isn’t she afraid of the Grand Princess or Her Majesty the Empress Dowager?”

He didn’t believe that Song Yixiao, who met her mother-in-law only a few times and even seldom met the Empress Dowager, would bet her life on their kindness and partiality!

“She must have an idea up her sleeve!”

However, scheming as Yuan Xuepei was, he was still confused now, “What idea up her sleeve does she have to guarantee her safety?”

Suddenly, an idea flashed through his mind, “Is she pregnant?”