The Marquise: I Earn My Own Worship

And in this year, the young fifth prince was actually brought to the court by the Emperor of Chu, under the pretext of training.

The court was now divided into three factions, each one secretly competing against the other. The Fifth Prince was in high spirits, and the controversy over the succession, which had just subsided, was beginning to intensify again.

Concubine De suddenly became the most powerful person in the palace, and even Concubine Ning had to "step back temporarily."

"I used to think she was a good person and even wanted to have a date with the two brothers. I didn't expect that the emperor's decree would reveal the true colors of some people."

Concubine Ning was stroking the cup in her hand, her eyes dark and unclear.

She was naive. She originally thought that the Fifth Prince was a good person, gentle and polite.

For Xiaoliu's sake, she took the initiative to get close to her. She originally thought that Concubine De was being gentle and non-competitive, but now she sees clearly that this was not being gentle and non-competitive at all. It was obvious that she looked down on both her and Xiaoliu.

All the things that happened in the past now seemed like a crisp slap in the face of Concubine Ning.

Since you don't want to have anything to do with me and Xiaoliu, just say it openly or secretly.

You want it all, you are so greedy.

Do you really think I'm dependent on her?

Concubine Ning was extremely angry. Now when she thought back to Concubine De's half-smile when she gave something to her, she wanted to go back and slap her twice.

"Stupid! So stupid!"

Concubine Ning was scolding herself. When she thought of Concubine De's current expression, she felt extremely uncomfortable.

"Who would have thought that the Empress Defei, who is said to be as calm as a chrysanthemum, would behave like this?"

Zhiyu stood up for her master and was so angry that her teeth were itching.

I used to think that Concubine Xian was the most pretentious, but now it seems that Concubine De is the most pretentious.

This story has to start from the beginning.

Although Concubine Ning was a noble concubine and was favored by the Emperor of Chu, her son, the Sixth Prince, was weak and had long been excluded from the candidates for the crown prince, both openly and secretly.

Some people would say that the Sixth Prince is in good health now, so why can’t he become the next emperor?

Being an emperor is not just talk, unless you are a monarch who only pursues pleasure.

Without a healthy body, how can one endure handling government affairs day and night?

Not to mention, standing in the court and watching the ministers below, they were arguing with each other, and some of the situations were even serious enough that they might even start fighting.

Of course, this situation is rare, especially now that the court has strict restrictions on court etiquette for court officials.

This happened twice in the history of the Great Chu. That was when the country was just founded. The military generals were weak and could not control their emotions. Once they even fought each other.

One of the people who did this was the former ancestor of the Duan family and the founding minister, Duke Duan.

During the court session, emotions fluctuate most violently. If he accidentally faints from anger, the ministers will not have the courage to do so.

So as a precaution, they would never accept a monarch with an illness.

Moreover, those who are ill will not live long.

Every change of monarch is a shock to the court, which can be fatal.

No one can guarantee that he or she will not be the next sacrifice.

A monarch who does not live long is harmful rather than beneficial to the entire country.

Therefore, no matter how much the Sixth Prince is favored by the Emperor of Chu, he cannot be the next monarch.

and so!

No matter how jealous the palace concubines were of Concubine Ning, they secretly ignored her.

Especially several high-ranking concubines who had children.

Although she is now the number one person in the palace, as long as Emperor Chu closes his eyes, she is nothing.

The best outcome for a frail prince is to become a prince.

And he must be a prince who can be tolerated by the next emperor.

Now it seems that it is a bit uncertain.

Concubine Ning didn't take the second prince seriously. She could tell from his childhood that he was the best at pretending.

The Fourth Prince was born to Consort Xian, and he had always been at odds with Consort Ning. How could she expect the Fourth Prince to treat her son well after he ascended to the throne? Consort Ning felt that this was worse than a dream.

There is only the fifth prince left. Concubine De seems to be a good person in the palace, and most of the concubines of high status are willing to go to her palace.

This was also one of the reasons why Concubine Ning was willing to win her over.

Although she didn't say it explicitly, Concubine Ning had tried to test the waters several times in private, but Concubine De always played it safe, neither explicitly accepting nor directly rejecting.

For a time, Concubine Ning was confused.

It was not until the fifth prince was allowed to enter the court at the age of thirteen as an exception, even though he was working and studying part-time, that people with ulterior motives saw that the fifth prince was highly valued by His Majesty and was expected to be appointed as the crown prince.

The fourth prince entered the court at the age of eighteen, so the difference is obvious now.

Now Defei became the number one among the concubines.

Well, the previously unclear attitude has become firm.

When the fifth prince entered the court, all the concubines in the harem presented him with gifts.

Concubine Ning picked out a golden-bottle-shaped jade statue from her private storehouse. Concubine De had always been fond of collecting such jade statues, and Concubine Ning picked one specifically to suit her taste.

When she arrived at Defei's palace, she was left sitting in the cold, watching Defei chatting and laughing with the lower-ranking concubines, ignoring her. When she finally managed to say something, she was interrupted by various other people.

If Concubine Ning still can't see this, she is a big fool.

So, she left in a rage, giving Concubine De a big humiliation.

But under the impulse, Concubine Ning began to regret it vaguely.

This time I have completely offended these people.

But even if she tried to please them, would they treat Ling'er well in the future?

Concubine Ning's eyes turned red and tears fell.

What should we do?

"My Lady, why shed tears for people who have nothing to do with you? They don't deserve it at all."

Zhiyu knelt down and wiped her master's tears.

Concubine Ning was crying at her desk. She was not upset for herself. What was her own face worth? Hadn't she suffered enough in the past?

She was sad because of Ling'er. What should he do in the future?

Your Majesty dotes on him so much that even if his brothers don't say it, they will be dissatisfied in their hearts, and they will not treat him well in the future.

She should have seen it earlier. It was Ling'er's first time attending a palace banquet, and if it weren't for Duan Jiazi, she would have almost been injured.

The fifth prince was there at the time, but I didn't see him come out and say a word.

She still has hope for such a person. If she is not stupid, then what is she?

Concubine Ning grabbed Yulan's arm tightly and said, "Yulan, what do you think I should do?"

Yulan felt pain from being pulled, but she didn't say a word. Instead, she kept comforting her.

"Your Highness, I don't understand any great principles. I only know that relying on a mountain will cause it to fall, relying on a tree will cause it to run away, and relying on others is not as good as relying on oneself. The Sixth Prince's future depends on Your Majesty. Your Majesty is the Sixth Prince's biological father. No matter what, Your Majesty will make plans for the Sixth Prince. Your Highness can tell His Majesty if you have any questions."

It is better to ask for yourself than for others.

Concubine Ning remembered what Old Madam Duan said last time.