Consort Zhuang doesn't want palace intrigue; she just wants to raise her child and live a caref

Su Nuannuan turned her head at the sound and looked toward the door, where she saw Li Quan peering at her from the doorway.

Seeing Li Quan's cautious yet slightly anxious appearance, Su Nuannuan secretly guessed that he was probably worried that barging in would disturb the two sleeping children inside, which was why he had been standing at the door, not daring to make any rash moves.

Thinking of this, Su Nuannuan gently turned around and walked towards the door. Seeing their mistress make a move, Yue Niang, Hong Lian, and Ting Xue quickly stood up, about to bow and see her off.

However, before they could speak, Su Nuannuan gestured slightly to them, indicating that they did not need to be so polite.

Nevertheless, the three women, including Yue Niang, still bowed respectfully, but all tacitly kept quiet, afraid of making any noise that might wake the children.

After leaving the house, Su Nuannuan turned to look at Li Quan, who was waiting at the door, and whispered, "We'll talk about it when we get back."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Li Quan hurriedly bowed and replied, then followed closely behind Su Nuannuan, walking together towards the main house.

Before long, the three arrived at the main room. After entering the hall, Su Nuannuan went straight to the head seat and slowly sat down. Just then, Jinse also walked in from outside.

"Jinse, why are you back so late?" Su Nuannuan asked as she saw Jinse walking slowly towards her.

Jinse hurriedly bowed and said slowly, "Your Majesty, I just happened to meet Consort Li in the garden, and she kept me there for a while." After saying that, Jinse bowed again and gave a deep bow.

Upon hearing this, Su Nuannuan frowned slightly, her face showing worry, and asked, "Did Consort Li make things difficult for you?"

Jinse quickly shook her head and replied respectfully, "No, Your Highness. It's just that Consort Li asked me to look after the two young princes for a while."

Upon hearing this, Su Nuannuan frowned even more deeply, pondering to herself, before continuing to ask, "What was Consort Li doing at that time?"

Jinse dared not be negligent and quickly replied, "Your Majesty, Consort Li was leisurely enjoying tea in the pavilion in the garden at that time."

Su Nuannuan nodded, then asked, "Did you get to have close contact with the two young princes?"

Jinse answered very decisively: "Never, Your Highness. This servant has always kept a certain distance from the two young princes, and they also have wet nurses following closely by their side."

After Jinse finished speaking, Su Nuannuan remained silent, her mind a jumbled mess. Why would Consort Li detain her personal maid for no reason? What deeper meaning and scheme lay behind this? For a moment, Su Nuannuan was lost in deep thought…

"Forget it, I can't figure it out anyway. I'll just ask Li Quan for the information he found out!" Su Nuannuan thought to herself, muttering to herself.

She raised her hand slightly and waved gently to Jinse, signaling her to stand aside for the time being. Then her gaze shifted to Li Quanshen, who was waiting for orders not far away, and she nodded slightly to him, signaling him to come forward.

When Li Quan approached, Su Nuannuan calmly asked, "Tell me about this new Consort Jiang, what is her situation?"

Li Quan quickly bowed and replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, this Consort Jiang came to the palace with her elder sister, Princess Qi. Initially, it was said that Consort Jiang intended to become a concubine of Prince Qi, but for some reason, she was chosen by the Emperor and subsequently granted the title of Consort."

Su Nuannuan frowned slightly, and asked thoughtfully, "Then what about the sisterly relationship between Consort Jiang and Princess Qi?"

Li Quan hesitated for a moment before slowly replying, "According to the information I have gathered, the relationship between the two of them does not seem to be as good as the rumors suggest."

Upon hearing this, Su Nuannuan scoffed and said coldly, "That makes sense. Throughout history, most people born of the principal wife look down on those born of concubines, unless you encounter a very few exceptions. By the way, is there any other information you've gathered?"

"After some inquiries, I learned that the position of Princess Qi should have originally belonged to Consort Jiang, but due to the interference and meddling of her stepmother, the bride on the wedding day became the current Princess Qi."

"Given such a sudden turn of events, with his bride being forcibly replaced, how could the King of Qi have made no fuss at all?"

“Indeed, there has been no disturbance whatsoever. As far as I know, on their wedding night, the Princess Consort of Qi gave the Prince of Qi something. As for what exactly it was, our people planted in the Prince of Qi’s residence have not yet been able to find out.”

"I really didn't expect that you had even successfully placed your own people in the Qi Prince's mansion." Su Nuannuan said with a look of surprise after hearing this.

"Your Majesty flatters me. It was merely a coincidence. When Prince Qi personally went to the Imperial Household Department to select servants, he happened to bring back one of our chosen people," Li Quan quickly bowed slightly, replying with a fawning smile.

"Judging from this situation, it seems that it doesn't matter much which woman the King of Qi marries, as long as she is the daughter of the Vice Minister of War."

However, I still can't figure out why the Prince of Qi chose that illegitimate daughter, now Consort Jiang, as his Princess Consort, instead of the current legitimate Princess Consort?

"Do not mention anything about mutual affection to me. If there were truly deep feelings between them, the King of Qi would not have remained silent about such an important matter as changing brides."

We must do everything in our power to secretly investigate what kind of mysterious object the Queen gave the King of Qi on their wedding night that could make him remain silent about such a momentous event as changing brides! We must not rush into this matter; we must investigate slowly and carefully, and we must not let our people be discovered and exposed.

"Yes, Your Majesty. This servant understands perfectly well," Li Quan replied respectfully.

"In that case, things will probably get interesting in the palace from now on."