"Time waits for no one. We must seize the opportunity. Mother Concubine, go now."
Lu Siming was worried that the Crown Prince might react too quickly. The longer they waited, the more likely things would go wrong.
Concubine Lan quickly ordered the maids to fetch water. She freshened up, changed into a plain and elegant dress, and was about to leave when a eunuch announced from outside, "Your Ladyship, Lady Qin requests an audience."
Yang. What could she possibly want at this moment?
A wave of annoyance welled up in Concubine Lan's heart.
Even though the Qin family had a bad reputation, Yang was still a first - rank imperial - titled lady. Leaving her waiting outside would be a loss of dignity.
"Let her in."
Concubine Lan more or less guessed the reason for Yang's visit and planned to get rid of her as soon as possible.
Yang entered the room. Seeing Lu Siming there with a gloomy and menacing look on his face, a shiver ran down her spine.
Although Lu Siming was a junior in front of her, Yang always felt that this boy was eerie, with a deep - seated and unfathomable mind, which was quite intimidating.
"Lady Qin has had so many family affairs recently. It's really kind of you to find the time to visit this palace."
There was a smile on Concubine Lan's face, but her words were laced with sarcasm.
Yang blushed.
There were indeed a bunch of troublesome things at home. Yan'er had been crying day and night, threatening to hang herself or cut her wrists, wearing out Yang and all the servants.
Ziqi's engagement had fallen through, and his reputation was ruined among the noble families. No noble lady was willing to marry him anymore. The once - noble young master had become more and more ill - tempered and locked himself in his study all day without going out.
Qin Feng blamed her for being stupid and incompetent. Their marriage was on the verge of falling apart.
She forced a smile and placed a heavy and luxurious sandalwood box in front of Concubine Lan.
"Your Ladyship, I heard that my brother - in - law was beaten and is seriously injured. I've been worried sick, but it's not appropriate for me to visit him directly at his mansion, so I have to trouble you to pass on my regards."
She pushed the box closer to Concubine Lan and said, "This is white ginseng. It's mild in nature and won't cause internal heat. It's perfect for my brother - in - law to recuperate with."
Qin Feng had been urging her to come to the palace to see Concubine Lan these days to facilitate the marriage between the Second Prince and Yan'er.
But without a good excuse, Yang knew that she would only be annoying if she came.
As soon as she heard that Gao Zhao was beaten and injured, she quickly dug out the treasure she had hidden away.
Concubine Lan didn't say anything and asked Qizhu to take the gift.
Lu Siming, however, gave a faint smile, with a hint of gloom in his eyes.
"Lady Qin, what do you mean? The Qin family and my maternal grandfather's family are in - laws. Although my aunt has passed away, the bond between the two families still exists. If you go to visit my brother - in - law, my grandmother will surely receive you. How is it inappropriate?"
Yang was left speechless.
The excuse she had made was indeed not very clever. But it was the rule to turn a blind eye when something was obvious. Why had this gentle and elegant Second Prince become so sharp - tongued and not give her any face at all?
Concubine Lan showed a look of impatience. "Lady Qin, if you have something to ask of this palace, just speak up."
Yang had come with a request and was beating around the bush under the guise of sending supplements to Gao Zhao.
Yang's face turned red and then pale as her thoughts were exposed.
She had to bow her head. Times had changed. The Qin family's reputation was in tatters. Who would be nice to her?
If it weren't for the Qin family's title and Qin Feng's high position in the court, she might not even be able to enter the gate of Fragrant Pavilion today.
At this point, she had no choice but to be thick - skinned.
"In the matter of the Spring Ling Villa, that Cheng Simian was so cunning that she ruined Yan'er's reputation. Yan'er has been crying at home day and night and even thought about committing suicide. Your Ladyship, you've watched this child grow up. She's always been a well - behaved girl. She shouldn't have her whole life ruined just because of Cheng Simian's deliberate frame - up, right?"
As Yang spoke, she wiped away her tears.
Her words were so pitiful that she hoped to arouse Concubine Lan's sympathy.
Concubine Lan was only annoyed by her sobbing.
But she still had to put on a show and comforted her perfunctorily, "It will be okay when the storm passes. Lord Qin has a high position and great power. Yan'er needn't worry about not finding a good husband. Even if the rumors in the capital don't die down, it's not a bad idea to marry into a noble family in a foreign place."
Yang rolled her eyes, observing Concubine Lan's expression while choosing her words carefully. "That's true, but I'm always worried if she marries someone from outside. It would be better if she married closer so that we can see each other often."
As she finished speaking, she accidentally caught Lu Siming's eye. A chill ran down her spine.
There was nothing but sneers, suspicion, and contempt in Lu Siming's eyes.
"Lady Qin, if you have something to say, just say it directly."
His voice was so cold that Yang felt even colder.
Just now, Concubine Lan didn't understand what Yang meant. But after Lu Siming's hint, she suddenly realized.
Then, anger welled up in her heart.
Yang was afraid of Lu Siming, but she had to force herself to continue, stuttering, "Our Yan'er only ended up with a ruined reputation because she was cooperating with the Second Prince's plan. For a girl, her reputation is everything. If she really can't get married, her whole life will be ruined..."
Concubine Lan flew into a rage and slapped the precious white ginseng on the ground.
"Yang, what do you mean? What do you mean by saying that Qin Xuanyan was cooperating with Ming'er? It was clearly your Qin family coveting the position of the Crown Princess. Since Qin Xuanyan wasn't in the Queen's good graces, you came up with such a despicable plan to ruin Cheng Simian's reputation! My son was kind - hearted enough to help you with the plan, but he got nothing in return and almost got himself into trouble! That stupid Qin Xuanyan lifted a rock only to drop it on her own feet, and now you're trying to drag my son into this? Take a good look at what your daughter is like. My son is of noble status. How could he marry your shameless daughter?"
Yang's face burned with shame, but she didn't dare to argue.
It was clearly Lu Siming who had planned everything.
Their Qin family was just cooperating, hoping for a win - win situation.
Who would have thought that Cheng Simian would easily turn the tables!
Concubine Lan was so angry that she felt her son's pure and noble image had been tarnished.
She didn't care about dignity anymore and didn't want to spare Yang any face.
"Take your things and get out. Don't come and bother me in the future!"
Yang was desperate. With tears in her eyes, she knelt on the ground with a thud. "Your Ladyship, we're real relatives. You can't be so heartless! If the Second Prince doesn't marry Yan'er, she'll have no choice but to die!"
Concubine Lan was so angry that her eyes were red. Two senior maids quickly came up and pulled Yang away.
"I can marry Qin Xuanyan and let bygones be bygones."
Lu Siming spoke slowly.
Both Concubine Lan and Yang were stunned.
"Ming'er, are you crazy? How could you marry that shameless woman?"
But Lu Siming showed a gentle smile to Yang. All the gloom and menace in his eyes disappeared, as if he were still that gentle and elegant young master.
Qin Feng was eager to pledge his loyalty to him.
He wanted to use Qin Xuanyan as a stepping - stone.
However, Qin Feng had missed the opportunity. Now, he was the one setting the conditions.
Yang was overjoyed and wept with happiness. "Is the Second Prince really willing to marry Yan'er?"
"Yes. I'll send a sedan chair to pick Miss Qin up from her mansion and bring her to the palace another day."
The smile on Yang's face froze.
"What? A sedan chair?"
When a prince got married, both his main wife and concubines had to go through the proper marriage rituals. The main wife would be carried in an eight - bearer sedan chair, and the concubines would be carried in four - bearer sedan chairs. They would be welcomed into the mansion in a grand manner.
A sedan chair meant that Yan'er would be even lower than a concubine.
The Second Prince was going to make Yan'er an unnamed concubine?
Concubine Lan still thought Lu Siming's decision was absurd.
"Letting your daughter be a concubine is already a great honor for your Qin family!"
Lu Siming didn't give Yang a chance to back out. "Lady Qin, go home quickly and discuss it with Lord Qin."
Yang slumped to the ground, her heart as dead as ashes.
...
Song Wanchu and Yaoguang entered the palace together.
After getting off the carriage, it was Aunt Daiying who was waiting at the palace gate to welcome them.
It showed how much the Queen valued Song Wanchu.
"Is there another carriage at the gate? Is there another noble guest entering the palace?"
Song Wanchu looked back at the carriage.
It was a hundred times more luxurious than the one she, a county princess, had taken.
Daiying smiled and said, "That's the carriage of the Rongxiang Duke's Mansion. Lady Qin is related to Concubine Lan's natal family and often enters the palace to visit."
Song Wanchu and Yaoguang exchanged a look and smiled knowingly.
They had rushed all the way, afraid that if they were a bit late, Concubine Lan would go to the Emperor to complain.
Lady Qin had appeared out of nowhere and held Concubine Lan up.
They walked along the long palace corridor.
Suddenly, Song Wanchu felt a cold and venomous gaze on her back.