Xiao Rongyan threw a massive tantrum after returning to the estate, but ultimately had to accept this outcome.
Side Consort Li Qinyun stood outside the room, eavesdropping.
Although they would both be side consorts, the other woman was a princess, thousands of times more noble than her. Once she entered the estate, she would undoubtedly suppress Li Qinyun completely.
"Your Ladyship, the Princess Consort is heading this way."
The maid turned her head toward the entrance. Upon seeing the Princess Consort of Ying approaching with her entourage, she hurriedly tugged at Li Qinyun's sleeve to warn her.
Li Qinyun took a step back, pretending she had just arrived.
When she walked up to them, the Princess Consort of Ying shot her a cold glance.
"I have important matters to discuss with His Highness. Side Consort Li, you may step down."
Li Qinyun clenched her jaw and lowered her head in aggrieved submission.
She only raised her head after the door was closed, her eyes full of grievance.
The maid supporting her comforted her in a low voice, "Don't be sad, Your Ladyship. Princess Shuwan's entry into the estate is most disadvantageous to the Princess Consort. When they start fighting, you can just sit back and watch the show."
Her sharp nails snagged a thread in her silk handkerchief. In Li Qinyun's eyes, there was not only sorrow but also deep resentment.
"I have endured for so many years, and now there is yet another person stepping on my head. Even His Highness does not treat me as well as he used to."
She pressed the back of her hand against her delicate, beautiful face.
Her skin was as smooth as jade, just like before, but it emanated an icy chill, as if the coldness was seeping from her very bones.
"In the end, I cannot compete with their family backgrounds and statuses. I am afraid I am going to lose this game of chess."
After walking down the steps, Li Qinyun looked up at the sky. A desolate smile curled the corners of her lips, as if she were mocking herself, or perhaps regretting her choices.
Inside the room, the floor was a mess of shattered objects. The Princess Consort of Ying could barely find a place to step.
"Your Highness, someone from the Ministry of Rites just came to discuss the wedding procedures with me. I wonder which courtyard you would like Princess Shuwan to stay in?"
As the primary wife, no matter how dissatisfied she was, she could only endure it.
With a loud bang, another heavy blow landed. Xiao Rongyan almost cracked the table with his palm.
"Do you need to ask me about such a trivial matter? Just arrange any random courtyard for her."
Her pale lips pressed into a thin line.
Courtyards varied in quality, and the other party was a princess. If she was dissatisfied with the courtyard, the blame would ultimately fall on the Princess Consort.
"There are two courtyards in the estate that meet the regulations for a side consort: Tinglan Courtyard and Ningshuang Courtyard. Which one does Your Highness think is suitable?"
Tinglan Courtyard was close to the front hall; it had a good location and its decorations were luxurious yet elegant.
Ningshuang Courtyard was close to the back wall of the estate. It was remote, and although it was spacious, it had been unoccupied for a long time.
She wanted to assign the latter but didn't dare, while assigning the former left her unwilling.
Therefore, upon hearing Xiao Rongyan throwing a temper tantrum in his room, she hurried over. It would be best if she could get him to assign Ningshuang Courtyard to the princess of the Shuobei Kingdom.
Without a second thought, Xiao Rongyan frowned and blurted out, "Arrange Ningshuang Courtyard for her."
The Princess Consort of Ying suppressed the joy in her heart and nodded obediently, "Yes."
After saying that, she spoke again, "Just now, Her Majesty the Empress sent someone with a message, asking me to enter the palace tomorrow. It is probably regarding the political marriage. Does Your Highness have any instructions?"
Xiao Rongyan closed his eyes wearily. After a moment of silence, he opened them again, his eyes revealing a sense of despondency.
"Tomorrow, I will go into the palace with you to pay respects to my mother."
Inside the County Princess's Estate.
Hearing that the Shuobei Kingdom was sending a princess for a political marriage, Song Jinzhao raised her eyebrows in surprise.
"This is not the Shuobei Kingdom's style. Marrying off a princess? They probably want to send a spy over. Send someone to investigate Princess Shuwan's background thoroughly, and plant a mole inside the Ying Prince's Estate."
As soon as she finished speaking, a carrier pigeon landed on the windowsill of the room.
Qingshuang walked over to check. There was a wisp of pale yellow down under the pigeon's wing.
"It's a carrier pigeon from the Shuobei Kingdom." She untied the letter from the pigeon's leg and handed it to Song Jinzhao.
Upon opening it, the small slip of paper was completely blank; there was nothing on it.
Song Jinzhao held the paper over the candle flame to roast it for a moment, and the handwriting slowly revealed itself.
"Grew up with her mother in a brothel from a young age. At fourteen, she was taken back to the estate by Prince Chu'an. She has never been shown to the public, and her appearance is unknown."
These short three sentences were all the information they could gather.
Qingshuang took the note and froze halfway through reading it.
Grew up in a brothel? Isn't this a bit...
"County Princess, do you think others know about Princess Shuwan's origins?"
Song Jinzhao's expression remained relatively calm.
"They definitely don't know, otherwise they wouldn't have agreed so readily."
Qingshuang asked, "Does this news need to be spread?"
Song Jinzhao shook her head.
"No matter what her status is, the Emperor would agree. The imperial edict has already been issued, so at most people will just curse about it. There's no need to say anything."
Qingshuang placed the note in the fire to burn it. "If the Prince of Ying finds out about Princess Shuwan's background, he will probably die of anger."
Song Jinzhao replied, "Even if he dies of anger, he still has to marry her."
