Steal my marriage? Turn around and marry the tyrant to take the throne

Consort Zhuang took a deep breath, gently stroked the top of the eldest princess's soft hair, and said affectionately, "Yun'er is right, it was Mother's oversight."

"Even a tiny cicada has a life; how can it be harmed so casually?"

"It's rare to see Yun'er with such a compassionate heart; it makes even your mother seem inferior."

At this point, Consort Zhuang looked up at Xiao Caizi who had entered and instructed, "Since the eldest princess has given the order, then we shall do as the eldest princess says."

"From now on, in the summer, no more catching cicadas or birds will be allowed in Changchun Palace. A few chirps will be fine once you get used to them; they are just the sounds of nature."

Xiao Caizi felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly bowed, saying, "Yes! This servant obeys the decree!"

"Your Majesty is kind, and the eldest princess is benevolent. This servant has misunderstood!"

When the eldest princess saw that her mother indeed agreed with her and even praised her, she immediately beamed with joy: "Yun'er knew it, Mother is the best!"

Consort Zhuang held the eldest princess's soft little body in her arms, her smile still perfect, but her eyes held a complex expression.

The cicadas still chirped in the sycamore trees, their sounds filling the air.

She suddenly felt agitated.

"Miss."

Ruoji came in and reported: "Han Cui from Xianfu Palace has arrived and is waiting outside the hall. She says she has important business to discuss with Your Highness."

Important matter?

Consort Zhuang could easily guess that it was Consort Mei who sent Han Cui.

She said to the eldest princess, "Yun'er, go and play first."

The eldest princess curtsied politely and said, "Yes, Yun'er takes her leave."

Consort Zhuang then said to Ruoji, "Let Hancui in."

"Yes."

Before long, Ruoji led the meek and obedient Hancui in.

Han Cui bowed respectfully: "This servant greets Your Highness, may Your Highness be blessed with good fortune and peace!"

"Stand up and answer."

Consort Zhuang asked, "You've come at this time, is there something wrong at Xianfu Palace?"

Han Cui recounted in detail how Consort Mei was anxious, regretful, and pleading.

Finally, she said, "...Your Highness, Consort Mei truly knows she was wrong and sheds tears every day, regretting her actions."

"She instructed me to earnestly plead with the Noble Consort to put in a good word for her before His Majesty, out of consideration for our sisterly and kinship ties."

"Even if... even if it meant going to Yongshou Palace to kowtow and apologize to the Imperial Noble Consort, she would be willing."

"The Empress said that if things continue like this, she will truly have no hope left and will have failed the Zhuang family's expectations of her..."

Consort Zhuang listened quietly.

When Han Cui came last time, she refused without hesitation.

At that time, she felt that Consort Mei was too arrogant and ignorant of her own limitations, daring to provoke the Imperial Noble Consort. She had only herself to blame for kicking a hornet's nest.

They deserve to be taught a lesson and temper their unrestrained nature.

They've only been confined for a few days, and they're already eager to get out; they can't hold back at all.

But now, more than a month has passed.

That's quite a long time.

For the women in the imperial harem, a little over a month is enough for a great deal of change to occur.

Newcomers may have gained favor, while old favorites are forgotten.

If Consort Mei continues to be imprisoned like this, His Majesty may truly forget her.

At that point, the piece that the dealer painstakingly sent in will truly become useless.

This time, Consort Mei has made some progress, knowing to keep a low profile.

Consort Zhuang certainly did not want to see the Zhuang family's daughter bowing and scraping before the Imperial Noble Consort.

That would be tantamount to slapping the bookmaker in the face.

However, His Majesty favors Lady Shen. If Consort Mei wants to come out, how can she appease His Majesty's anger without making a full show of admitting her mistakes?

Furthermore...

Sending Consort Mei to Yongshou Palace to kowtow and admit her mistakes would be a good way to teach her a lesson for her arrogant and ignorant heart.

Perhaps a strong medicine is needed to make Consort Mei personally experience how vulnerable her so-called family background and beauty are after losing the emperor's favor.

If Consort Mei learns a lesson from this experience, she will be truly useful in the future.

Thinking of this, Consort Zhuang raised her eyes to look at Han Cui and asked, "Did Consort Mei really say that she is willing to go to Yongshou Palace to kowtow and admit her mistake to the Imperial Noble Consort?"

Han Cui nodded quickly: "Yes!"

"Her Majesty said it herself, not a single word is different!"

"She said she would do anything to appease His Majesty!"

Consort Zhuang remained silent for a moment, seemingly weighing her options, before finally saying slowly, "That's enough."

"After all, she is my own sister. I can't just stand by and watch her waste her life in Xianfu Palace."

"Go back and tell Consort Mei that I know. Tell her to stay in Xianfu Palace and think carefully about how to act in the future."

"I will find a suitable opportunity to speak on her behalf to His Majesty."

Han Cui said, "This servant will definitely convey the message!"

"Go."

Consort Zhuang waved her hand: "Tell Consort Mei to be patient and not to make any more mistakes that would betray my good intentions."

"This servant understands! This servant takes his leave!"

Ruoji stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, are you really going to speak up for Consort Mei?"

"What about His Majesty..."

Consort Zhuang said calmly, "They are, after all, members of the Zhuang family."

"Having left Consort Mei out in the cold for so long, she should have learned her lesson. Keeping her locked up any longer will do no good for the Zhuang family."

……

After July, the weather became increasingly unbearably hot.

Investigating internal spies, apprehending Jiang Wange, defending the northern border, and ensuring smooth water transport...

With a series of important matters weighing on his mind, Nangong Xuanyu spent increasingly more time in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

It had become common for emperors to review memorials until late at night.

That afternoon, Nangong Xuanyu had just finished discussing the details of reinforcing the northern border with several trusted ministers.

Li Changde then entered and reported: "Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine requests an audience, saying that seeing Your Majesty's recent hard work, she specially prepared ginseng soup to send to you."

A hint of annoyance flashed across Nangong Xuanyu's eyes.

It wasn't directed at Consort Zhuang herself.

Ever since the incident at Fatu Temple, whenever Nangong Xuanyu saw Consort Zhuang, he would think of how devoutly she had been a Buddhist, always carrying her prayer beads with her.

The incense in the small Buddhist hall of Changchun Palace burned continuously, and Consort Zhuang often spoke with a touch of detachment from worldly affairs.

Even though Consort Zhuang had long since changed herself, Nangong Xuanyu still instinctively rejected her.

Some deeply ingrained impressions are not so easy to erase.

The emperor wanted to refuse outright, but he hesitated and stopped himself from speaking.

Consort Zhuang was, after all, the legitimate daughter of the Grand Tutor.

He could be annoyed by Consort Zhuang, but he couldn't disregard the Zhuang family's reputation.

The emperor finally said, "...Let her in."

"Yes."

Li Changde bowed and withdrew.

Before long, Consort Zhuang came in carrying a food box.

Today she wore a light blue magnolia-colored palace dress, her hair was neatly styled, and a kingfisher feather hairpin was inserted diagonally.

Her makeup was light and appropriate, and there was no extravagance in her attire, yet she possessed a dignified air.

Upon entering the hall, Consort Zhuang kept her eyes straight ahead, walked to a suitable distance in front of the imperial desk, and curtsied: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects. Long live Your Majesty!"

"No gift."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Consort Zhuang rose and handed the food box to Xiao Huizi, who came forward to receive it, and said gently, "Your Majesty has been working tirelessly for the country for days on end, neglecting to eat and sleep, and I am very concerned about you."