When Cheng Yong heard that there was a way to curry favor with the eldest princess, his eyes immediately lit up.
He always believed that since the eldest princess had saved the emperor's life, even if she committed the crime of colluding with the enemy and betraying the country, the emperor would spare her out of the kindness from their childhood. Even when the emperor passed away in the future, he would leave an amnesty token for the eldest princess before his death.
If the crown prince wanted to settle accounts with the eldest princess, it would be a great act of filial impiety. The virtuous crown prince could not bear the crime of disobeying the late emperor!
Moreover, whether the crown prince could eventually ascend the throne was still uncertain.
The eldest princess had frequent interactions with Concubine Lan. Concubine Lan's status was second only to the queen. Even in her forties, she was still highly favored.
The second prince born to Concubine Lan was only two years younger than the crown prince. He was equally talented in both civil and military affairs and was well - known for his virtue in the court.
The eldest princess intended to support the second prince.
It was still unclear who would emerge victorious.
Cheng Yong was betting on the eldest princess and was confident that he could continue the glory of the Marquis Mansion.
"What opportunity? Tell me quickly." He couldn't wait.
Cheng Simian opened the package.
Cheng Yong gasped repeatedly, his eyes trembling. He was in a daze for a long time.
The sun was shining brightly that day, and the study was well - lit. However, the treasure in front of them still shone with brilliance.
The jade as bright as blood was exquisitely carved into a blooming rose, looking sacred and solemn.
The gorgeous and grand color was reflected in their eyes.
Such a treasure seemed to be desecrated when placed in the small study.
It should be enshrined in the magnificent palace, with incense curling up every day, and people kowtowing and praying to it devoutly.
Looking at the treasure in front of him, Cheng Yong felt a sense of panic and insignificance. He didn't even dare to touch it, for fear of defiling this sacred object.
"This... Is this the legendary..." He was so shocked that he stammered.
Cheng Simian raised her eyes, calm as water. "Yes, this is the national treasure of the Gaochang Kingdom, the Blood - Drop Rose."
Cheng Yong gasped in admiration.
"Wasn't it said to be lost when the Gaochang Kingdom was destroyed? Eighty thousand Hu soldiers searched every corner of the Gaochang Kingdom but couldn't find the whereabouts of this treasure. How did it end up in your hands?"
Cheng Simian explained indifferently, "Three years ago, I went to Hengzhou. In a village, I met a foreign woman who exchanged the Blood - Drop Rose for 30,000 taels of silver notes.
I just thought it was an ordinary treasure, so I carried it with me. After returning to the capital, I accidentally heard that this was the national treasure of the Gaochang Kingdom and that the eldest princess loved it very much.
I thought that our Cheng family's fortune was tied to that of the eldest princess. Why not let father present it to the eldest princess?
If the eldest princess is happy and pleads with the emperor, father may get his official position back."
Cheng Yong felt his daughter's respect and love for him, and his previous anger dissipated completely.
He looked at his daughter, smiling from ear to ear, and his eyes became much softer.
At first glance, he really looked like a kind - hearted father.
The treasure that the eldest princess had always desired most in her life was the Blood - Drop Rose.
For this reason, she didn't hesitate to collude with the Hu people. She sent her confidant Yue Chengkong to join hands with the Hu people to destroy the Gaochang Kingdom.
There were millions of corpses, rivers of blood, and wailing everywhere, but she didn't care at all.
Over the years, she had been looking for the whereabouts of the Blood - Drop Rose.
She suspected that the treasure was in the hands of the escaped princess of the Gaochang Kingdom. But she could never find out where the princess was hiding.
If he presented the Blood - Drop Rose, he would be the number one meritorious official of the eldest princess.
The eldest princess always had the most say in front of the emperor. Wasn't it just a matter of time before he got his official position back and even climbed higher?
He increasingly felt that it was an extremely correct decision to bring Cheng Simian back.
"Mianmian, you are really a lucky star for father!" He was so touched that he was almost in tears.
There was not a single ripple in Cheng Simian's cold eyes.
"Father is the head of the family. Only when father is well can the Marquis Mansion prosper. Naturally, I think about father."
Cheng Yong carefully picked up the Blood - Drop Rose. His fat face glowed red with excitement.
Cheng Simian looked at him, with a hidden coldness and deadness in her eyes, as if she were looking at a dead man.
...
The next day, before noon, the Eastern Palace received the news.
Cheng Yong had presented the Blood - Drop Rose to the eldest princess.
The assassination of Liang Yuzhou had failed, and the old marquis' poison had been cured. The eldest princess was in a state of depression.
As soon as she got the Blood - Drop Rose, she seemed to have a second spring.
She not only rewarded Cheng Yong with countless gold and silver treasures but also promised to plead with the emperor to restore his official position at the Spring - Welcome Banquet.
It was said that the eldest princess also highly praised Cheng Simian, this girl who understood the general situation, and wanted to meet her someday and arrange a marriage for her.
The first few pieces of news were good news that made the crown prince happy. But when he heard the last one, his face darkened.
The fist hidden in his sleeve tightened involuntarily.
At the same time, Song Wanchu and Liang Yuzhou also got the news.
"It's really hard on Mianmian. The crown prince is so suspicious of her, but she still takes the risk of being examined by the eldest princess and takes the initiative to share the crown prince's worries."
Song Wanchu sighed. "Her willpower is really extraordinary."
The reason she made up for why the Blood - Drop Rose was in her hands seemed reasonable at first hearing.
Hengzhou was located in the northern border and was adjacent to the Gaochang Kingdom. It was possible for her to meet a "foreign woman" there.
The eldest princess finally got the treasure she had dreamed of and was immersed in ecstasy. She didn't notice the truth or falsehood of Cheng Simian's reason for a while.
As time passed and she thought it over, she would surely suspect.
She had informants all over the capital, and Cheng Simian couldn't stand close scrutiny.
So, they had to act quickly before the eldest princess came to her senses.
Success or failure would depend on the Spring - Welcome Banquet.
At the Marquis Mansion of Wude.
Cheng Siyi flew into a rage and smashed things in the room, making a racket.
"Cheng Simian is really good at pretending! She pretended to be on bad terms with father, but in fact, she was using the strategy of feigning withdrawal to gain an advantage. As soon as she got the chance, she flattered and ingratiated herself with father!"
Yu Qiao'er was sitting on the imperial concubine's couch. Her fingernails dug deeply into her flesh. She was so angry that it seemed as if venom was spurting from her eyes.
The banquet to elevate her to a noble concubine had been canceled, and Siyi's betrothal banquet was shabby and not presentable.
Cheng Simian was trying to trample them mother and daughter underfoot!
"That little bitch Cheng Simian took advantage of the marquis' good mood and dismissed a large number of servants. There are hardly any servants left in our rooms!"
Yu Qiao'er had been in charge of the mansion for eight years and had the bearing of a mistress. She always paid attention to the grandeur when going in and out.
There were more than thirty maids, women servants, young servants, and carriage drivers serving her.
Cheng Siyi was no exception.
As soon as Cheng Simian came back, she waved her hand and dismissed more than half of the people around her.
She, a noble concubine, was not as glorious as an ordinary concubine before!
"Mother, I can't swallow this breath when I see Cheng Simian being so proud and successful!"
Cheng Siyi looked at the fragments all over the ground, with a sharp and venomous light flashing in the corners of her eyes. "She was doing well in the south of the Yangtze River. Why did father bring her back? I should have married Liang Yuchuan from the beginning! Why didn't she die on the way?"
Yu Qiao'er remembered the two groups of people who had tried to intercept and kill Cheng Simian on the way.
She had hired them at a high price.
Now, Cheng Simian had come back safe and sound, and she was embarrassing them mother and daughter everywhere.
But those hooligans had disappeared without a trace.
Yu Qiao'er had inquired, but to no avail.
Those people seemed to have evaporated from the world.
This was a huge stone hanging over her heart.
Would Cheng Simian bite back at her when she least expected it?
"No, we can't let her be so proud."
A venomous light gradually emerged from Yu Qiao'er's eyes. "I heard that the eldest princess wants to arrange a marriage for her. There are rumors that it's the second prince. She must not marry better than you, Siyi!"
No matter how glorious Liang Yuchuan was, he would only be a duke in the future.
The second prince might be the future emperor!
"Mother, do you have any ideas?"
"Of course, I have a good idea. Mother will make sure you trample that little bitch underfoot for a lifetime!"