Chapter 214: Chapter 214 - Taking Women as His Stepping Stones?

Song Yixiao felt that Princess Changxing kind of deserved it, but the one who seduced Jian Yiyou happened to be Shen Qimo. This cousin was brought to the imperial capital by Elder Lady Duanmu. Now Princess Changxing kept scolding Shen Qimo for being shameless, but how could she not transfer her anger to Elder Lady Duanmu?

“Changxing, are you sure about that?” She pondered and said, “In the whole imperial capital, it can’t be that only Cousin Qimo’s name contains the character. Maybe it is a coincidence?”

Princess Changxing sneered and said, “Do you think that I’m lying? My maid saw her and my husband being in the alley, intimate and close. That ignoble woman’s family name is Shen but obviously, she takes after the Lu Family in terms of appearance. She has brought shame on her grandfather, hasn’t she?”

Since she described Shen Qimo’s appearance accurately, Song Yixiao realized that she meant it for sure. She sighed in secret and said, “I’ve met her only once and exchanged some usual pleasantries. I’ll be lying if I tell you that I know her well.”

However, she recalled that back then, after Elder Lady Duanmu said that Lu He’ai was fine, Shen Qimo still emphasized that he coughed heavily. Song Yixiao felt that she either cared about Lu He’ai so much that she feared Lu He’ai’s illness might be delayed by Elder Lady Duanmu’s insistence or she wanted to gain some benefits. As to either of the motives, Song Yixiao could show understanding for her.

Yet, she had to admit that simply given this matter, Shen Qimo was not a person of integrity.

In this case, it was possible that Shen Qimo still had an affair with him even if she knew that Jian Yiyou had married the princess.

“You know my temper!” Princess Changxing stroked her Huixin bun and said casually, “I won’t let go of such kind of things! But she is brought by Grandaunt. It is said that Grandaunt always attaches importance to rules. If she can handle this herself, I may not necessarily do it by myself!”

Having said that, she took a glance at Song Yixiao, “So, how about your helping me deliver the message to Grandaunt?”

“No way!” Song Yixiao heard that and said with a forced smile, “Grandaunt came to the imperial capital to seek for medical advice. Now she is not fully healed. If I tell her about this recklessly, the consequence will be unimaginable!”

She said casually, “Moreover, how can this be all her fault? If the Prince Consort doesn’t feel a thing for her, can a powerless delicate girl like Cousin Qimo force him to send gifts to her and have an affair with her? Isn’t it unreasonable that you vent all the anger on Cousin Qimo? Perhaps she is the one being deceived and seduced!”

After all, “You should know that Cousin Qimo always stayed in the imperial mausoleum before, without any chance to get contact with outsiders! Now, it has been less than half a month only since she arrived at the imperial capital. She is a truly simple and innocent girl. Isn’t it easy to coax her? Especially, as you said, she is really beautiful. Simply in light of her appearance, she is attractive enough!”

Song Yixiao said confidently, “In my opinion, it is better to confront the Prince Consort! If it is the Prince Consort’s fault, as to Cousin Qimo, you and the Prince Consort should give an explanation to Grandaunt!”

Princess Changxing went so mad, “Since when I said that I wouldn’t blame the Prince Consort? As to Shen Qimo, even if she doesn’t know who he is or that he is married, is it a decent thing that a single girl has an affair with a man and exchanges gifts with him? I heard that you had gone to the girl’s school in the Prince’s mansion. Don’t tell me that’s what you learn at the school!”

The Princess had a clear glint of disdain in her eyes, “No wonder you can be Lady of Yan!”

“The reason why I can be Lady of Yan is due to the Empress Dowager’s favoritism,” Song Yixiao replied without even blinking her eyes, “Likewise, the reason why you can marry Yiyou is also due to the imperial family’s favoritism, isn’t it?”

Princess Changxing understood what she meant. The former favoritism of the Empress Dowager referred to the marriage granted via the imperial edict; the latter one referred to taking away the fiancé from Pei Yourui by counting on her own identity.

“Anyway, Shen Qimo is never as innocent and simple as you said!” Regardless, Princess Changxing was in the wrong for this matter. After all, the marriage of Pei Yourui and Jian Yiyou was granted by the Empress Dowager. A princess couldn’t accuse her grandmother of mistakenly granting the marriage anyway.

Therefore, she feigned ignorance and resumed the previous topic, “You keep defending for her like this. Is it because you have known that she seduces the Princess Consort?”

As she raised the question, Song Yixiao couldn’t continue defending for Shen Qimo anymore. Otherwise, Princess Changxing would say, “I know we are not on good terms, but I didn’t expect that you would incite Cousin Qimo to seduce my husband just in order to take revenge on me.” Although Song Yixiao didn’t fear that, it was still quite troublesome.

Well, the key point was that Song Yixiao didn’t dare to promise that Shen Qimo was really as simple and innocent as she claimed.

However, not defending Shen Qimo didn’t mean that Song Yixiao would do as was told by Princess Changxing. She found another reason soon, “Yesterday, His Majesty passed out again. I’m sure that you are aware of it too. You are the only legitimate daughter of His Majesty! His Majesty’s apple in the eye! If His Majesty knows that the Prince Consort has an affair right after you are married less than four months. How can His Majesty not be angry? Who can bear the consequence?”

Instantly, Princess Changxing thumped the table and stared at her as fiercely as arrows were shot together. She would rather tear apart Song Yixiao on the spot, “You are a legitimate wife too. How can you protect that dirty woman?”

“Changxing, what are you talking about?” Actually, Song Yixiao didn’t mean to show favor towards Shen Qimo. Who she worried about most was Elder Lady Duanmu. Now that Princess Changxing was almost driven to a corner, she finally said, “Even if the Prince Consort and Cousin Qimo are in the wrong, His Majesty and Grandaunt are innocent. I’m fine with it if you want to deal with the Prince Consort and make Cousin Qimo shrink back from difficulties. Nevertheless, if the two seniors are implicated, it will be too much!”

Princess Changxing felt so depressed, “My father is recuperating now. As long as no one tells him, how can he know about this? As to Grandaunt, as you said, how can Shen Qimo succeed in seducing my husband without others’ help? If she is not a senior, I should take my people to smash her residence and show all the people of the imperial capital that Princess Consort of Chengyang, who was in a prominent position back then, has become a shameless woman who asked her granddaughter seduce her great-nephew!”

“We don’t need to talk then!” Song Yixiao stood up directly, “Changxing, please turn to someone else. Since you are my sister-in-law, here is a reminder for you. Yesterday, Her Highness Princess Yushan just claimed in grief that she was not treated equally as you! At this moment, as the eldest daughter of your generation in the imperial family, you should set a good example for Her Highness Princess Yushan lest Her Majesty the Empress Dowager and His Majesty feel disappointed!”

Then she just flipped her sleeves and left, regardless of Princess Changxing’s fury!

However, Song Yixiao had just left Princess Changxing’s mansion when she pulled a long face. It had been only more than ten days since Shen Qimo arrived at the imperial capital but she had successfully seduced the husband of the legitimate princess! There must be a hidden reason!

But Song Yixiao didn’t feel that someone was guiding and helping Shen Qimo!

She was more doubtful that Jian Yiyou was the one who took the initiative in seducing Shen Qimo!

“Before Grandaunt arrived at the imperial capital, Jian Xubai told that apart from seeking for medical advice, she was here also for the reason of disposing of the remaining assets of Jinxiu Hall!” Song Yixiao thought of this and narrowed her eyes slightly, “Although for Grandaunt, among the male descendants of the Jian Family, Uncle Limiao is the most familiar one to her. Jian Xubai who is favored by Uncle Limiao is surely more inclined to be favored by Grandaunt than Jian Yiyou!”

“But Uncle Limiao and Grandaunt have been apart for years!”

“Shen Qimo is not reserved enough but she has been raised by Grandaunt since she was born!”

“Even if she is not related to Grandaunt by blood, Grandaunt can’t be relentless!”

“Grandaunt has travelled from far away to the imperial capital for medical advice and brought them along. Was it really only to let them serve her on the way? Doesn’t she want to take the opportunity to create a bright future for them?”

Since Shen Qimo was brought here by her, obviously, Elder Lady Duanmu liked her very much.

Otherwise, why didn’t Elder Lady Duanmu bring her son’s daughter but her daughter’s daughter, who was supposed not to be really close to her by reason?

“How old is this cousin? She has been guarding the imperial mausoleum with her seniors. Apart from her own cousins, what kind of talents can she meet?”

Jian Yiyou was not an outstanding person in the imperial capital, “After all, he is handsome and the son of the Grand Princess. His bearing cultivated since childhood can’t make it to the top one or top two among his peers, but it is much better than that of Lu He’ai and Lu Heyu!”

Under the circumstance, wouldn’t it be a piece of cake for him to seduce Shen Qimo?

If it were not for Princess Changxing, they two would continue covering their affair up so that Jian Yiyou could let Shen Qimo coax Elder Lady Duanmu into handing over all the assets of the Jinxiu Hall to him unknowingly!

“I didn’t hear that Jian Yiyou was famous as a playboy in the imperial capital.” Thinking of that, Song Yixiao couldn’t help sneering and pondered, “Why does he keep using women? He dumped Pei Yourui first and then married Changxing. Now he has seduced Cousin Qimo. Ji Mingfei always goes to brothels and sleeps with the women in his own mansion but he does that for pleasure! On the contrary, Jian Yiyou just takes one woman after another as his stepping stones!”

She felt so angry and disgusted. When she returned to Duke of Yan’s mansion, Jian Xubai happened to come back too. Without even changing her clothes, she dragged him into the inner chamber and told him what had happened. In the end, she said furiously, “When he broke off the engagement with Yourui, I thought it was probably Princess Changxing’s fault! Unexpectedly, he is trying to scheme against Cousin Qimo now!”

Maybe Shen Qimo was not reserved and demure enough, but it was understandable that a beautiful girl who lived in the deserted imperial mausoleum would make a mistake out of admiration when she just arrived at the prosperous imperial capital.

If Jian Yiyou didn’t seduce her proactively, with the supervision of Elder Lady Duanmu, maybe she would desist from making the mistake before it was too late.

According to Princess Changxing, they two exchanged the jade pendant in the shape of mandarin ducks and the handkerchief with the pattern of mandarin ducks. Even if this matter was suppressed, Shen Qimo’s future was mostly ruined!

Thinking of that, Song Yixiao felt so remorseful. If she had known that, she wouldn’t have sent someone to ask Jian Limiao to persuade Elder Lady Duanmu to move somewhere else on the day when she finished offering condolences in Prince of Yi’s mansion and returned home. Of noble origin, Elder Lady Duanmu, as the late Princess Consort of Chengyang, had experienced a lot of ups and downs. Despite her old age, she was not muddle-headed.

If Jian Limiao didn’t keep advising her to move house these days, which sort of occupied her time and energy, she would have found the affair between Shen Qimo and Jian Yiyou!

However, now that the die had been cast, it was too late to regret. Song Yixiao could only sigh nonstop, “What shall we do now?”