Chen Mingyu abruptly lifted her head to look at Old Lady Chen, her eyes glistening with tears. The pitch-bck pupils, washed by her tears, appeared especially bright:"Grandmother, do you mean… Noble Consort Xian didn’t send those people to assassinate Princess Rongcheng? They were actually targeting Sixth Miss Song?"

  Old Lady Chen pursed her lips into a faint smile, the spider embroidery on her forehead cloth shimmering with a faint green light under the mplight:"Do you think Noble Consort Xian, after losing Prince Duan and the Ninth Princess, would be so muddle-headed as to provoke Princess Rongcheng and the Empress? Who doesn’t know that after Prince Duan’s death, the empire already belongs securely to the Crown Prince of the Eastern Pace? Even if it’s not the Crown Prince, there’s still Prince Gong, the Heir Apparent, and the Prince of Commandery—there’s no chance for Prince Lu, born of Noble Consort Xian."

  In such a situation, unless Noble Consort Xian has a death wish, how could she dare to provoke the Empress and Princess Rongcheng? If she were truly that foolish, she wouldn’t have been able to secretly vie against the Empress for so long during Prince Duan’s prime.

  Thus, although the rumors suggested that Noble Consort Xian harbored a grudge over past disputes between the Ninth Princess and Princess Rongcheng and sent assassins to harm the princess, Old Lady Chen didn’t believe it for a moment.

  Even Emperor Jianzhang and the Empress probably didn’t believe it. But what does it matter? Noble Consort Xian did indeed send assassins—remnants of Prince Duan’s faction, raised as hidden operatives. That alone was enough to thoroughly disappoint the Emperor in her.

  Chen Mingyu’s eyes lit up for real this time. She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and smiled mischievously, a hint of schadenfreude flickering in her expression:"I understand now, Grandmother. Noble Consort Xian was targeting Song Chuyi all along."

  Noble Consort Xian had fallen into disgrace because of Song Chuyi, but remnants of Prince Duan’s faction couldn’t all be captured at once. Song Chuyi’s head now hung precariously by a thread, uncertain when it might roll to the ground.

  Song Chuyi believed she would benefit with Princess Rongcheng taking down Noble Consort Xian, yet she didn’t realize that greater dangers y in wait. With so many remnants of Prince Duan still out there, while they’d eventually be wiped out, Song Chuyi might not live long enough to see that day—her remains would likely be gone long before, scattered to the winds.

  Although she felt smug about it, Chen Mingyu kept her expression tactful, revealing no hint of malice—a skill Old Lady Chen had painstakingly taught her. No matter the situation, never appear overly sharp or cruel. Men preferred women who were gentle, soft, and unthreatening, like fresh blossoms in early spring—delicate and non-aggressive. A woman too sharp, no matter how capable, would lose her appeal in a man’s eyes.

  Satisfied, Old Lady Chen patted Chen Mingyu’s hand and smiled at her:"That’s why I always teach you to stay calm and observe carefully. Don’t sweat the small things. Those who endure being trampled into the dirt will one day stand at the very top, steady and unshakable. That’s the meaning of the saying your grandfather often told you—‘A great man can endure both setbacks and triumphs.’"

  She paused, noticing Chen Mingyu’s bright, attentive eyes, then continued with a smile:"The Song family must be at their wits' end over Song Chuyi’s supposed cursed fate. If they don’t want to marry her off hastily, they’ll likely send her to the Cui cn for a while, letting the city’s gossip cool down before bringing her back. But that journey won’t be easy...

  "During this time, focus on cultivating good retions with the Empress, show filial respect to the Crown Princess, and visit Princess Rongcheng often. By the time Song Chuyi returns from Jinzhong, what will it matter if she’s whole? By then, you’ll already be the Grand Crown Princess, while she’ll be nothing but a widow with an inauspicious fate."

  Chen Mingyu felt thoroughly comfortable and convinced by her grandmother’s words, agreeing wholeheartedly.

  Princess Rongcheng sat beside the Empress, not as close as usual, her arm unlinked from the Empress’s. Fear flickered faintly in her eyes.

  The grand hall was oppressively silent. A vase of narcissus flowers had just bloomed, their faint fragrance harmonizing with the transparent crystal vase. The curling incense smoke from the burner blended seamlessly with the floral scent, creating an oddly intoxicating atmosphere.

  The Empress appeared to be asleep, her head propped on one hand, her eyes closed, saying nothing. Her usually smiling face was devoid of expression.

  Xie Siyin gestured to Princess Rongcheng, signaling her to soften her stance.

  The Empress never scolded or punished in anger. Whenever the princess or the Crown Prince made mistakes, she would simply stop speaking to them, sometimes for ten days or even half a month.

  Princess Rongcheng sighed, knelt before the Empress, and gently held her hand. With a tone of resignation, she called, "Mother," and shook her hand, looking somewhat aggrieved. "It was Wei Zhao who asked me to do this... I thought he must have had his reasons..."

  "Oh?" The Empress opened her eyes, sliding her pale hand out of the princess’s grasp. "It wasn’t because you disliked Noble Consort Xian and decided to go along with it?"

  When Prince Duan was still alive, the Crown Prince’s health was poor. This emboldened Noble Consort Xian, who acted with considerable arrogance. After Prince Duan was sent to Fujian to oversee a region, he performed admirably, further earning the Emperor’s trust. Noble Consort Xian became even more brazen, and Princess Rongcheng had suffered her share of slights, both overt and covert.

  She had always disliked Noble Consort Xian. So when Ye Jingchuan revealed that the consort was still secretly employing Prince Duan’s operatives, she had naturally brought the matter to Emperor Jianzhang’s attention.

  Princess Rongcheng lowered her head, muttering after a long pause:"Father won’t bme me for this... She really was using Prince Duan’s people. It’s not like I wronged her."

  "Rongcheng!" The Empress sharply raised her elegant brows, her voice carrying a warning as she fixed her gaze on Princess Rongcheng. "He is your father, the Son of Heaven of the Great Zhou! Do you think there is anything in this world that can be hidden from him? If he chooses to turn a blind eye, it is only because the Ninth Princess has just concluded a marriage alliance for the nation..."

  Princess Rongcheng bit her lower lip, refusing to utter another word in her frustration.

  The Empress sighed softly and gnced at her. "Never think of yourself as exceptionally clever. Your father may have outwardly said nothing and even dealt with Noble Consort Xian, but in his heart, he may not be so forgiving. Remember, he is the sky of the Great Zhou, and he is also the sky above you and me..."