The Empress put on a display of royal magnanimity, acting as if she were thinking entirely of the Cui and Tang families and giving the primary consort ample face.
Had they not been in the palace, Cui Yunchu would definitely have laughed out loud.
It turned out there was someone even more thick-skinned than herself.
The Empress's gaze remained gentle, showing not the slightest hint of embarrassment. "Old Madam Cui, what are your thoughts?"
Old Madam Cui's expression was frosty. Just as she was about to speak, Tang Qingwan gently tugged at her sleeve and shook her head almost imperceptibly.
Old Madam Cui had no choice but to change her tune. "This matter concerns His Highness the Crown Prince's wedding. It should be decided by His Highness. The Cui and Tang families have no objections."
The Empress paused, seemingly not expecting things to go so smoothly.
With the Cui family being so overbearing, how could they agree so easily?
Old Madam Cui and the three Cui sisters fell into silence, not uttering a single word.
Standing beside the Empress, the sharp look of triumph in Liu Wanting's eyes was almost overflowing.
No matter how prosperous and noble the Cui family was, what did it matter? In the face of imperial power, they still had to obey.
"I have already discussed this with the Crown Prince earlier. Since Old Madam Cui has no objections, I will have the Ministry of Rites choose an auspicious day as soon as possible to hold the wedding. I have been looking forward to this for many years."
The Empress smiled radiantly, the joy and pleasure on her face appearing very genuine.
Not having to waste her breath or severely offend the Cui and Tang families was simply the best outcome.
"Qingwan, rest assured, I will not let you suffer any grievances."
Tang Qingwan's eyelids fluttered. She looked up at the Empress and offered a flawless, polite smile.
However, within that smile was a faint trace of aloofness, a world away from the wholehearted devotion she had shown in previous years.
Marrying the primary and secondary consorts at the same time—was that not grievance enough? What, then, would count as a grievance?
Tang Qingwan's eyes were filled with hidden mockery.
Just then, the call of a young eunuch rang out from outside the hall: "His Highness the Crown Prince arrives!"
Everyone in the hall, except for the Empress, stood up. Liu Wanting even stepped right down the imperial stairs and went to the doorway to welcome him.
"Your Highness."
A tall, slender figure dressed in the Crown Prince's regal attire stepped through the doors, and everyone bowed in unison.
Liu Wanting's voice was by far the most coquettish, so sweet it could almost drip water. It made Cui Yunchu, who was well-versed in such arts, twitch her lips and give a slight shudder.
Who said she was the one putting on a fake voice? Liu Wanting was no less skilled than her. That cry of 'Your Highness' was so melodious and charming.
She definitely had to learn that trick later.
Tang Qingwan kept her eyes slightly lowered, her gaze falling upon the man's short boots embroidered with cloud patterns.
The hall fell silent for a moment. The Crown Prince walked right past Liu Wanting, but the Empress suddenly gave a light cough, glaring at him sharply.
Tang Qingwan looked up and met the Crown Prince's furrowed brows; a flash of hesitation crossed his face.
"Please rise, Miss Liu," he said, turning slightly to offer a token gesture of helping her up.
The stiffness and displeasure on Liu Wanting's face vanished instantly, and she gazed at the Crown Prince with a timid, bashful expression.
Only then did the Crown Prince withdraw his gaze and turn back around. "Old Madam Cui, you are too polite. Please rise quickly."
"First Miss Cui, Second Miss Cui, please rise as well."
But when it came to Tang Qingwan, he walked straight up to her and personally helped her up. "There is no need for such formalities with me."
The Empress smiled, seemingly quite satisfied.
It made sense. If even a secondary consort was given such great face, the Crown Prince naturally ought to show even more love and respect to Tang Qingwan.
However...
Cui Yunchu silently watched the Crown Prince let go of Tang Qingwan and pay his respects to the Empress. Her eyes darkened, and she sighed heavily in her heart.
He was afraid of even a single cough from the Empress and didn't dare walk straight to her cousin. Would such a man really defy the Empress or even the Emperor for her cousin's sake?
Clearly, it was highly unlikely.
Liu Wanting felt displeased by the Crown Prince's special treatment of Tang Qingwan, but since the Cui family had acted so magnanimously today, she naturally couldn't say anything. She could only endure it for now and return to stand by the Empress's side.
The Empress asked, "Why aren't you keeping your royal father company at the front? Why have you run over here?"
The Crown Prince's gaze quickly swept over Tang Qingwan to the side, then up to Liu Wanting standing above, before he replied, "Second Brother is keeping him company at the front. I felt bored there, so I came to Mother's palace to sit for a while."
"What nonsense are you saying?" The Empress's face tightened, but considering there were outsiders present, she ultimately saved some face for the Crown Prince and refrained from scolding him.
Was being bored keeping the Emperor company something he should be saying out loud?
Especially with Prince An and Consort Liang currently in favor. The wolfish ambitions of that mother and son were practically glaringly obvious; they were just waiting to drag the Crown Prince down and prop that little bastard up to the throne.
The Empress looked at the Crown Prince with great displeasure. He didn't just want to sit for a while; he was clearly here for Tang Qingwan. She was happy to see marital harmony, but how could he let romantic attachments delay their grand cause? He had no sense of propriety.
The Crown Prince naturally knew of the Empress's wariness toward Consort Liang and her son, so he immediately changed the subject. "Mother is right to lecture me. I also came because I was entrusted by Madam Liu, having heard about a certain matter."
The Empress furrowed her brows, her gaze immediately darting to Liu Wanting beside her.
Liu Wanting kept her face neutral, but she was overjoyed inside. Her mother must be standing up for her.
"Madam Liu? What is this about?" The Empress's previous displeasure toward Tang Qingwan vanished without a trace.
Watching the mother and son maneuver around each other, Cui Yunchu couldn't help but sigh in admiration. The Crown Prince might be cowardly and indecisive, but he wasn't stupid. In just a few words, he had deflected the Empress's displeasure.
The Crown Prince weighed his words carefully before speaking. "To answer Mother, Madam Liu sought me out and said that Miss Liu has been feeling unwell lately and needs to recuperate. She is unfit to marry for the next three months, and hopes I will be magnanimous and understanding."
The Empress had just said that a fortune teller claimed Liu Wanting must marry before August of this year. Now Madam Liu was saying she couldn't marry within the next three months. It was already May; three months from now would be exactly August.
Wasn't Madam Liu's move a direct slap to the Empress's face, exposing her lies and deceit?
Moreover, she shouldn't have gone to the Crown Prince with this matter at all. Her daughter was standing right there, perfectly fine. That cry of 'Your Highness' just now certainly didn't sound like someone who was sick.
To actually ask her son to be magnanimous and understanding—just how precious was her daughter to put on such airs?
Typical of a military family; she was simply an idiot.
A surge of anger rose in the Empress's heart, and her tone instantly turned exceedingly cold. "Oh, is that so?"
She looked toward Liu Wanting. "Miss Liu is ill?"
Liu Wanting's face paled slightly, but with the Empress glaring at her, she had no choice but to play along.
She coughed lightly a few times. "This subject... caught a chill a few days ago and suffered a fright. I was indeed ill. My mother was likely afraid I would pass the sickness onto His Highness, which is why she acted so."
Liu Wanting at least had some brains.
Hearing this, the Empress's expression softened just a fraction.
But it wasn't necessarily that Madam Liu lacked brains. It was also possible that the Crown Prince was meddling and intentionally setting them up.
Cui Yunchu quietly watched the drama unfold.
Beside her, Tang Qingwan kept her head slightly bowed, showing no emotion. However, the handkerchief in her hand was tightly twisted in her palm, clearly indicating she was somewhat nervous.
Cui Yunchu sighed softly. No matter how much one appeared to be in control, emotions were ultimately hard to master; they would unknowingly corrode one's rationality.
"What kind of illness is so fierce that it makes Madam Liu this cautious?" The Empress's tone had only improved slightly.
Liu Wanting bit her red lip and glanced at the Crown Prince.
She couldn't help but feel that something was off.
If she made her complaint like this, the outcome would certainly fall short of her expectations. But where exactly had things gone wrong? Why did her mother have to seek out His Highness the Crown Prince and spout such nonsense?
Liu Wanting's mind was a bit of a mess, but her feet were already held to the fire; she had no choice but to play along and continue.
"This subject... This subject..." Before the words could even leave her mouth, her tears fell first. Liu Wanting bit her lip hard, wearing the aggrieved look of someone too ashamed to speak.
The Empress sat up a fraction straighter. "What on earth is the matter? Just spit it out."
Could the girl be suffering from some unmentionable affliction?
But the Liu family held military power. If the Crown Prince did not marry her, would Consort Liang have Prince An marry her instead?
The Empress felt as though a cat were scratching at her heart, leaving her utterly anxious and unsettled.
