Cheng Simian put down the family genealogy in her hand.
Nanny Qing and Maid Fang looked extremely surprised.
Cheng Simian had heard in detail from Maid Fang about all the outrageous things Princess Lingyang had done in pursuit of Liang Yuzhou.
She had gone to threaten Liang Yuzhou on his wedding day, forbidding him to marry his main wife. As soon as Liang Yuzhou stepped out, she would follow him like a shadow. When Liang Yuzhou petitioned for the title of imperial lady for Wan Chu, she set dogs on Wan Chu...
It was truly one shocking thing after another.
Cheng Simian didn't have much interaction with Princess Lingyang, and their relationship couldn't be considered good.
What on earth could it be that had made Princess Lingyang come all the way to her house?
A visit from a princess was no small matter. Cheng Simian and Mrs. Rong went to greet her at the main gate, with Maid Fang and Nanny Qing following beside them.
As soon as Princess Lingyang got out of the carriage, she grabbed Cheng Simian's hand and exclaimed affectionately, "Sister - in - law!"
Faced with such an address, Cheng Simian wasn't the least bit reserved. She simply gave a generous smile.
Cheng Simian invited Princess Lingyang to her boudoir. Mrs. Rong accompanied them for a cup of tea and then excused herself, saying she had something to attend to, leaving the two of them alone.
"Your Highness, my humble abode can't offer you proper hospitality. And I'm busy preparing for my wedding, so I can't accompany you out," Cheng Simian said.
Princess Lingyang waved her hand carelessly. "It's okay, it's okay. I just wanted to come and see you, sister - in - law. Since Brother Crown Prince likes you, I like you too!"
She beamed brightly, looking completely innocent.
She was like a harmless little rabbit.
If Cheng Simian hadn't known what she had done beforehand, she really wouldn't have been able to connect her with that crazy girl who set dogs on people.
Cheng Simian had already guessed that Lingyang hadn't come to see her for no reason.
But she wouldn't be the first to ask.
Lingyang stared at her face for a while and then said with a big smile, "They all say Song Wanchu is the most beautiful woman in the capital, but in my opinion, she's far inferior to you, sister - in - law! She doesn't deserve the title of the most beautiful woman in the capital!"
Cheng Simian's eyes flickered slightly, and a sense of caution welled up in her heart.
Pulling others down didn't make one look more noble. As a princess born into the royal family, Lingyang should understand this truth better than she did.
Lingyang was belittling Wanchu in front of her, and there was a strong sense of resentment in her words.
Apparently, she had been instigated and had come here to sow discord.
So, Cheng Simian chose not to respond to this remark and just gave a casual smile.
Princess Lingyang leaned closer. On her still - childish face, she tried hard to look serious, a look that didn't match her age.
"Sister - in - law, Brother Crown Prince likes you, and I hope you two will have a long and happy marriage. But you must be on your guard against that Song Wanchu. She once tried to seduce Brother Crown Prince!"
Cheng Simian's eyelashes fluttered slightly, but there was no significant change in her expression.
Faced with such a big secret, her lack of reaction left Princess Lingyang stunned.
"You're going to marry Brother Crown Prince. Even if it were an ordinary man, wouldn't you be angry if another woman tried to seduce your fiancé?"
It was as if she was going to teach Cheng Simian how to be jealous.
Cheng Simian couldn't help but laugh. Is this all?
The means of sowing discord were so simple and direct!
She even thought Princess Lingyang was a bit cute in her foolishness.
"You're still laughing? Why aren't you angry?" Princess Lingyang demanded angrily.
Instead, Cheng Simian asked an unrelated question, "Your Highness, what kind of person do you think Liang Yuzhou is?"
Princess Lingyang's face flushed a bit, and her eyes were full of admiration and longing. "He's the most handsome and intelligent man in the world. He's also a man who can't tolerate the slightest bit of injustice, has a stubborn temper, and is very good at using tricks!"
She both loved and hated Liang Yuzhou.
"As you said, Liang Yuzhou is so intelligent and has the ability to judge people. If Wanchu is fickle and unfaithful, would he still love her so deeply that he would even consider becoming a monk and sever ties with the Duke's Mansion for her?"
Princess Lingyang was speechless.
She couldn't refute such a strong line of reasoning at all.
"But Brother Crown Prince was once infatuated with her and protected her openly and secretly many times!"
Princess Lingyang was determined today to say something reasonable to make Cheng Simian hate Song Wanchu.
But Cheng Simian remained as calm as ever, and the smile on her face had almost faded away.
"So, Your Highness means that I should go to the Crown Prince and expose their past, making the Crown Prince lose face and letting everyone know about it. Then, Wanchu will be disgraced again?"
Princess Lingyang's mouth fell open. If Cheng Simian really made a fuss, she would be the one to blame!
She was most afraid of Brother Crown Prince.
"Or does Your Highness hope that I will have a grudge against their past and ruin my wedding with the Crown Prince?"
"I didn't say that!"
"But isn't that exactly what Your Highness just said you hoped for?"
Cheng Simian was composed, while Princess Lingyang was so angry that she was about to stamp her feet.
"They all say you're intelligent. Why don't you understand what I'm saying? My Brother Crown Prince is a good man, while Song Wanchu is a bad woman. You should hate her and find a way to get rid of this thorn in your side!"
How ridiculous! She was actually trying to tell Cheng Simian what to do.
She thought Cheng Simian knew nothing.
"Your Highness, as far as I know, it was the Crown Prince who used to like Wanchu. Is it Wanchu's fault that she was liked by him?"
Cheng Simian never answered her questions but always counter - questioned her.
Lingyang gradually became more and more impatient, but she couldn't come up with a single good retort to Cheng Simian's questions!
The smile on Cheng Simian's face had disappeared. Her eyes were cold. "Maybe they had some emotional entanglements in the past, but Wanchu wasn't the one who initiated it. And at that time, neither I nor the Crown Prince knew Wanchu. Since I wasn't involved, what right do I have to make a fuss or get angry?"
Princess Lingyang stared blankly at her.
She was so calm, logical, and her refutations were well - founded. The coldness in her eyes was actually very similar to that of the Crown Prince.
Compared with her, Lingyang's tantrums and pestering made her look like she had no dignity of a royal princess at all.
Cheng Simian said earnestly, "Your Highness, you shouldn't become a tool in someone else's hands and turn the sharp blade against the people you care about the most!"
These words awakened Princess Lingyang.
"I..."
She remembered that it was the Second Prince who had revealed the past entanglement between the Crown Prince and Song Wanchu.
It seemed like an innocent remark, but it was actually a deliberate attempt to sow discord.
Every word Cheng Simian said hit the nail on the head.
If there really was a big fuss, it would be Brother Crown Prince who would lose face!
She hated Song Wanchu, but she respected Brother Crown Prince.
Love was a matter between two people. She couldn't just make Song Wanchu disgraced without involving the Crown Prince.
If she really messed up Brother Crown Prince's wedding...
A chill ran down Princess Lingyang's spine.
One day when Brother Crown Prince ascended the throne, she would be the eldest princess of the Great Zhou Dynasty. She relied entirely on Brother Crown Prince's protection to continue living a life of luxury!
Princess Lingyang left dejectedly.
Cheng Simian wrote a letter to the Crown Prince and asked Steward Chen to deliver it to the Eastern Palace.
In the letter, she didn't point out who had instigated the trouble.
But as soon as the letter reached the Crown Prince's hands, he immediately guessed.
Liang Yuzhou had long suggested giving Lu Siming a good beating to teach him a lesson.
The Crown Prince had been a bit hesitant, considering the dignity of the royal family.
But Lu Siming had gone too far and had even used the innocent Lingyang!
If he didn't take action now, Lu Siming would be openly challenging him!
At night.
On his way to the Chunling Villa, Lu Siming was blocked by a carriage.