The princess regretted it.

As soon as she said this, the other two were stunned.

Concubine Zhang didn't even think twice and spoke up to stop him, "Jiaoyu, stop talking nonsense!"

Changsun Yunji, on the other hand, was stunned. He just stared at Changsun Jiaoyu, his mouth opening and closing, but he couldn't utter a word for a long time. His eyes moved back and forth between Changsun Jiaoyu and Concubine Zhang, and then he asked, "Mother, what exactly are you hiding from me? What do you mean by my sister saying this?"

Concubine Zhang looked at her son's bewildered expression, and she felt anxious. She quickly said, "Yun Ji, your sister just spoke hastily. Don't take it to heart."

"Mother!" Zhangsun Jiaoyu decisively interrupted Concubine Zhang. "You can't blindly protect my brother and me any longer, hiding everything from us and not wanting us to know anything. Since you have such high hopes for my brother, you should let him participate in this. Only in this way can he truly grow. The intrigues and deceptions he will face in the future will be even more numerous and complex than they are now."

Concubine Zhang was slightly startled, with a complex look in her eyes. She knew her daughter was right, but she was also worried that the children would be hurt if they were exposed to this cruel reality too early.

She sighed softly and said slowly: "Jiaoyu, when did you know all this?"

"Mother, I have noticed it a long time ago, and I also understand how difficult it is for you in the harem." Changsun Jiaoyu said calmly, "Mother, you can tell us anything in the future. We are a family and should stick together." As she said this, her eyes were fixed on Changsun Yunji, who was standing aside with an incredible look on his face.

"Mother did this for your own good. But these matters are too complicated, and Mother just doesn't want you to bear these pressures too early. I just hope that you can be clean and not be contaminated by these filth." There was a hint of helplessness and kindness in Concubine Zhang's voice.

Changsun Jiaoyu shook her head firmly and said, "Mother, we are no longer children. We can't live under your protection forever. We must learn to face these things so that we won't be caught off guard in the future."

Changsun Yunji looked at his mother and sister, feeling incredibly unfamiliar. He shook his head vigorously and said helplessly, "No, this shouldn't be the case. Sister, that's our father. Doing this is a betrayal and a great disrespect." His eyes were filled with panic and confusion, as if he couldn't accept the situation before him.

Concubine Zhang felt very distressed when she saw her son like this.

Seeing this, Changsun Jiaoyu sighed softly and said, "Brother, you are too naive. Where is the pure family love in this palace? If we don't make plans early, we will be plotted against sooner or later. The brotherly love and respect you see is just superficial. Who in this palace doesn't have many faces?"

Changsun Yunji still couldn't accept it. He bit his lip tightly and said, "But we can't betray our father."

"Father is not just our father!" Changsun Jiaoyu suddenly raised her voice. "Brother, you're where you are today not just because you're Father's son, but more importantly, because you were born to the Grand Tutor's mother. Without the support of my maternal family, you'd end up like Changsun Wuwang. Think about it; his name is worlds apart from yours."

She spoke these words so quickly and urgently that Changsun Yunji was completely stunned. Changsun Jiaoyu paused, then calmed her tone and continued, "Brother, I know you can't accept this all at once, but I still hope you can think it over carefully. Even if you can't figure it out, please don't act impulsively."

Changsun Yunji stood there blankly, his eyes filled with confusion and pain. He had never imagined that his status and glory had such a complicated background. He had always believed that as a prince, he should be respected and favored, but he had never considered the conflicts of interest and power struggles behind this.

Concubine Zhang felt a pity for her son as she watched him suffer. She walked over to her eldest grandson Yunji, gently took his hand, and said, "Yunji, it's okay! Your sister's words were a bit harsh, so don't take them personally. Although the situation is complicated, she hopes that we can face it together and overcome it. Our goal is only one: to help you ascend to the throne. No prince is more noble than you. You always have mother and family behind you."

Changsun Yunji said with difficulty: "Mother, I will think about it carefully."

"Okay, go back first. Take care of yourself!" Concubine Zhang didn't want to push him too far. After all, she hadn't intended for him to know this in the first place. Her eyes revealed a hint of heartache and concern.

Changsun Yunji bowed to Concubine Zhang and slowly withdrew. He looked somewhat forlorn, as if burdened with endless confusion and bewilderment. Concubine Zhang watched her son's retreating back with mixed feelings. She knew this was a huge challenge for her son. But she hoped he would gradually grow up amidst the difficulties.

Zhangsun Jiaoyu looked at her brother's back, feeling a little sorry. She walked to Concubine Zhang and said softly, "Mother, my brother will figure it out."

Concubine Zhang nodded slightly and said, "I hope so. Your brother has a kind heart and he accepted all this for the time being. Jiaoyu, you should give him more time."

Zhangsun Jiaoyu lowered her head and said, "Mother, I know my words tonight were a bit out of line. I was just anxious at the moment, and this matter at my grandparents' house might have been caused by me."

"What? What are you talking about?" Concubine Zhang's face changed drastically and she quickly turned around to look at Changsun Jiaoyu.

"Mother, please don't be so anxious. Sit down and I'll tell you!" Zhangsun Jiaoyu carefully helped Concubine Zhang to sit on the couch, her expression filled with nervousness and uneasiness. Concubine Zhang stared at Zhangsun Jiaoyu, waiting for her explanation.

After a moment's deliberation, Changsun Jiaoyu slowly recounted to Concubine Zhang the details of the matters she had secretly sought from her uncle. Concubine Zhang's expression grew increasingly grim, and her heart grew more and more shaken as she listened. She stared at her daughter in disbelief. She had always considered her gentle and kindhearted daughter to be secretly doing so many things she had no idea about. And her good brother was also foolish, having done so many things with her daughter without her knowledge.

Concubine Zhang felt a wave of sadness in her heart. She said in a trembling voice, "Jiaoyu, why are you doing this? Do you know how much trouble this will bring us if it is discovered?"

Zhangsun Jiaoyu lowered her head and said nothing. Concubine Zhang looked at her like this and asked helplessly, "Did your grandfather and great-grandfather know about these things?"