"Have someone send a message to Momo, telling her to return in ten days to accompany us back to the capital."
"Momo is familiar with the palace. When the time comes, have her stay by Duoduo's side, never leaving her for a single step."
Hearing the Prince of Pingyang's words, the Princess Consort of Pingyang felt her heart thumping wildly.
"Your Highness..."
The Prince of Pingyang picked up a chess piece. "We cannot do without our guard against others."
"Imperial Father's birthday this time will absolutely not be peaceful."
"Although we are sitting on the mountain watching the tigers fight, we cannot allow ourselves to be used as someone else's weapon."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang fell silent.
For the Emperor's birthday, the Prince of Pingyang absolutely had to attend.
Not just the Prince of Pingyang, but any prince who had not been demoted to a commoner had to return.
This was a critical time for establishing the Crown Prince, and everyone wanted to show their filial piety in front of the Emperor.
Who knows, perhaps the Emperor would take a liking to one of them and make him the Crown Prince?
The Emperor was getting on in years; the Crown Prince established now would definitely be the secure heir to the throne.
"I will have someone send a message to Momo right away."
Thinking of this, the Princess Consort of Pingyang stood up.
"I shall take my leave first. Your Highness, please rest more when you have the time."
The Prince of Pingyang nodded; he also had many things to do.
The people sent by Ling Xiao had already gone to the manor.
The people sent by Ling Yu should also be arriving soon.
Once everyone had gathered, he would make another trip to the manor.
Along the way, he would also see how the first batch of weapons forged by Wang Changsheng and the others turned out.
The Prince of Pingyang silently arranged in his mind the matters that needed to be completed as soon as possible.
As the Princess Consort of Pingyang walked, she pondered how to force the steward to back down.
She had always been gentle in her actions, so she couldn't be too forceful, lest the steward notice something amiss.
"Lianxin, go and call Granny Ni over. Tell her I have matters to instruct her on."
"Yes."
Lianxin hurried away, and the Princess Consort of Pingyang continued walking back.
Just as she was about to enter the room, she suddenly remembered that they would be entering the capital in a dozen days or so, and she needed to purchase some clothing and accessories for Duoduo.
Then she shook her head.
No, Xianyang was still too remote.
The styles of jewelry and clothing would definitely not be fashionable.
It would be better to wait until they reached the capital to take Duoduo shopping.
However, she should have a few new outfits made for Duoduo first.
"Baihe, go open my storehouse and bring out a few bolts of brightly colored fabric."
"Preferably fabrics suitable for the Commandery Princess. Oh, right, I remember there being a bolt of red gambiered Canton gauze in the storehouse?"
Baihe nodded.
"Yes, Your Highness thought the color was too vibrant, so it has been sitting there untouched."
"However, Your Highness, you should also have a few new outfits made."
"We are returning to the palace to celebrate a birthday, after all. You should also have two bright outfits made; His Majesty likes festive colors!"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang glanced at Baihe.
"I remember your embroidery skills are quite good. In that case, take that bolt of red gauze and make one outfit for the Commandery Princess and one for me."
"If you do a poor job, I will punish you by not allowing you to follow me back to the capital."
A look of pleasant surprise appeared on Baihe's face, and she hastily curtsied.
"This servant thanks Your Highness for your profound grace. I will definitely make the new outfits to the satisfaction of both you and the Commandery Princess!"
"This servant will go fetch the fabric right away!"
After saying this, Baihe hurried out, as if fearing the Princess Consort of Pingyang would change her mind if she delayed for even a second.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang smiled.
The families of Baihe and Lianxin were both in the capital.
Returning to the capital meant their entire families could reunite.
But what about her family?
"Your Highness, the woman from the Ni family is here."
Lianxin walked over, leading a tall, sturdy older woman.
As soon as the older woman approached, she dropped to her knees with a thud.
"This servant greets Your Highness!"
After speaking, she kowtowed to the Princess Consort of Pingyang.
"Rise. Granny Ni, have you gone to inspect the greenhouse?"
Granny Ni stood up, keeping her head respectfully lowered.
"To answer Your Highness, I have seen it."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang picked up the teacup from the table and took a sip.
"Tell me your thoughts after seeing it."
Gathering her courage, Granny Ni raised her head and glanced at the Princess Consort of Pingyang.
When she saw the Princess Consort of Pingyang looking at her, Granny Ni quickly lowered her head again.
"To answer Your Highness, this servant feels that some of the flowers in the greenhouse are not being tended to meticulously enough."
"Furthermore, some of the flowers in the flowerbeds are too precious and should not be planted out there."
"Also, this servant took a look at the gardener's logbook."
"Actually, there are some flowers that this servant can cultivate myself; there is absolutely no need to spend money buying saplings from outside."
"In addition, the survival rate of some flower saplings is too low, yet the estate keeps buying them repeatedly."
"This servant feels that flowers are merely meant to be pleasing to the eye. There is no need to insist on raising flowers that are difficult to keep alive."
After finishing her piece, Granny Ni secretly peeked at the Princess Consort of Pingyang again.
"If you want to say something, just say it. Why are you hesitating?"
Lianxin reprimanded Granny Ni from the side.
Granny Ni shrank her neck.
"This servant has something to say, but I do not know if I should say it."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang set down her teacup.
"Speak."
Granny Ni curtsied first before standing up to reply.
"There are a few types of flowers in the flowerbeds that ordinary families like ours would never plant in our homes."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang was a bit puzzled.
"What flowers? Not planted at home? Then where are they planted?"
Hearing the Princess Consort of Pingyang's gentle tone, Granny Ni grew bolder.
"Your Highness, for example, the oleander flowers. We would not plant those."
"Do not just look at its beautiful blooms; it is poisonous!"
"What!" Lianxin cried out involuntarily.
Because oleanders had a long blooming season and exceptionally beautiful flowers, they were planted in quite a few spots around the gardens.
"Its flowers, stems, and leaves are all poisonous. Mild cases cause heart palpitations and pain, while severe cases can take a person's life!"
"Since this servant has now taken over the flora, I naturally must clarify this with Your Highness."
"If we can avoid planting these oleanders, it would be best to uproot them."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang clenched her hands tightly inside her sleeves, her nails digging into her flesh without her even realizing it.
In the past, she would always feel uncomfortable heart palpitations every so often.
Every time the doctor came to see her, he could never find the cause.
She had always thought it was a problem with her own body. Now it seemed it was mostly likely man-made.
"Continue. What other flowers in the estate are also poisonous?"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang forced herself to calm down.
"To answer Your Highness, the night-blooming jessamine under His Highness's window is also harmful to the body when it blooms."
"And the morning glories in the garden, those are also poisonous flowers."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang felt as if the blood in her entire body had frozen.
"Are there any more?"
Her icy tone made Granny Ni shudder.
"To answer Your Highness, there are no more for now."
"Uproot all the flowers you just mentioned!" A fierce glint flashed in the Princess Consort of Pingyang's eyes.
"Yes, this servant will go right away. I guarantee that they will be completely uprooted, without a single living plant left behind!"
Granny Ni bowed and prepared to leave.
"Wait!"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang suddenly called out to stop her.
"No need, no need to uproot them!"
