Chapter 95: The Crown Prince Wants to Marry Song Xizhi

Xie Yan is the eldest legitimate son of the Yongning Marquis Manor, born of the marquis and the former lady; thus Xie Lin is actually born of the second wife.

According to reason, the hereditary title should pass to the eldest legitimate son.

But because Xie Lin has a mother of very high status, a princess born of the imperial clan.

Thus when Xie Lin was five, the marquis had him appointed heir apparent.

The emperor readily accepted.

For Xie Yan, this is actually unfair, but there are many unfair things in the world.

In short, after Xie Lin was made heir apparent, the Yongning Marquis Manor flourished, and the originally somewhat declining Xie clan also completely consolidated its position at the center of power.

Yet few people remember that the true eldest legitimate son of the Yongning Marquis Manor is actually Xie Yan.

Even when the crown princess mentions this person, Shen Shuangning's mind goes blank for a moment.

Then the image of that refined and quiet young man appears in her mind.

That was when Shen Shuangning first went to the Yongning Marquis Manor to express thanks; Xie Yan politely greeted her, and she almost mistook him for Xie Lin, only later learning his identity.

After that, she seemingly never saw him again.

Thus Shen Shuangning said: "I know, Your Highness, why do you bring him up?"

The crown princess paced to the window, walked back, then decided to tell Shen Shuangning.

"That day I inadvertently overheard the crown prince and an official from the Ministry of Punishments discussing under the rain corridor, speaking precisely of Xie Yan of the Yongning Marquis Manor, secretly colluding with the Holy Heaven Sect to assassinate the heir apparent!"

At that moment, Shen Shuangning stared wide-eyed, "You, what are you saying?" Shocked to the point of forgetting honorifics.

Xie Yan colluded with the Holy Heaven Sect and even assassinated Xiao Jingyuan?!

The crown princess fixed her gaze on Shen Shuangning's eyes, earnestly saying: "Do you remember the lantern festival on Long Peace Street, when the Top Scholar Bridge was blown up?"

Shen Shuangning blankly nodded.

The crown princess said: "I heard that Ministry of Punishments official say this matter was wholly plotted by Xie Yan, to assassinate the heir apparent. And what Xie Yan did should not be limited to this; in their conversation I dared not listen too closely."

Shen Shuangning instinctively wanted to ask: Xie Yan has no grudge against Xiao Jingyuan, why would he assassinate him?

The thought arose, she then realized—perhaps Xie Yan did not intend to kill Xiao Jingyuan himself, but the rebel faction wanted to eliminate him quickly, and Xie Yan merely obeyed the Holy Heaven Sect's orders.

Shen Shuangning also recalled: when Xiao Jingyuan was attacked and his life hung in the balance, she had brought Mu Yu to administer aid.

At that time Su Chen was furious, saying he had dispatched people to trace the assassins' whereabouts, yet ultimately still let them escape.

If the assassin had hidden in the Yongning Marquis Manor then?

Given Xiao Jingyuan's trust in Xie Lin, he probably never thought to investigate the Xie family.

Earlier that Sun Qianhu, merely hiding gunpowder, was directly ordered by the emperor to have his property confiscated.

Yet Xie Yan repeatedly attempted to assassinate court officials, and even the gunpowder hidden in the Drunken Cloud Pavilion and even the imperial mausoleum might be linked to him!

If this were brought before the emperor, it's hard to guarantee he wouldn't vent his anger on the entire Yongning Marquis Manor.

After all, the Xie clan's influence far surpasses that petty Sun Qianhu, making it more conspicuous and more likely to arouse the emperor's suspicion.

Thinking this, Shen Shuangning felt her legs go weak, and she had to lean against the stove to barely stand.

Seeing her panicked expression, the crown princess gently placed a hand on her shoulder and said softly: "I tell you this not for any other reason, only because I cannot bear to see you suffer misfortune after marrying into that household; please think it over carefully."

This news hit her with overwhelming force.

Shen Shuangning felt her mind go completely blank, for a moment not knowing what to do.

Reason told her she should not be with Xie Lin, lest she drag the Duke's manor into danger.

But Xie Lin has done nothing wrong.

Recalling that boy's pure, fervent eyes, Shen Shuangning could not bring herself to hurt him.

Her fingers curled slightly, she drew a deep breath, slowly lifted her gaze and said: "Thank you, Your Highness, for informing me."

She truly felt grateful to the crown princess.

This matter is after all confidential; the crown princess ought not to have disclosed it outwardly, yet she deliberately told her.

Although currently Shen Shuangning does not yet know what she can do, at least she can have mental preparation.

The crown princess said no more; she had privately summoned Shen Shuangning solely for this matter.

She lifted the bowl of longevity noodles, her smile still gentle: "All right, I've said what I needed to say; go find the princess, she'll be bored alone over there."

Shen Shuangning gazed at her smile, performed a respectful bow: "Yes."

The crown princess turned, heart full of joy, and went to find the crown prince.

Shen Shuangning also carried her worries, silently returning to Jingyu's side.

Jingyu looked at her and asked: "Why did you take so long?"

Shen Shuangning gave a strained smile: "I spent some time."

Jingyu noticed Shen Shuangning's return with a preoccupied expression, but seeing she did not wish to speak, she did not press.

The evening breeze brushed over the water noodles, stirring ripples layer upon layer.

While waiting for the crown princess to return, Jingyu leaned against the waterside pavilion, holding the snacks in her hand and feeding the fish.

Shen Shuangning sat in the waterside pavilion pondering, one hand resting on the table, her fingers slowly turning the empty tea cup.

Why would Xie Yan court death by colluding with rebels?

Is it to reclaim what is rightfully his as heir apparent, or simply to take revenge on the marquis manor, even the imperial house?

At this moment, two men in official robes passed not far away.

Shen Shuangning's seated position happened to afford a view of them, so she naturally lifted her eyes to look.

One of them is Pei Zhi, wearing a rather formal scarlet official robe; that color is deep and elegant, and from afar it carries a few shades of the solemn remoteness of distant blue mountains.

The other, she does not recognize.

But if the crown princess were here, she would recognize the person beside Pei Zhi as that Ministry of Punishments official she saw that day.

Judging by their direction, they are returning from discussing matters with the crown prince.

Seeing the princess present, the two walked over and bowed.

Seeing it was Pei Zhi, Jingyu smiled and said in a very amiable tone, "No need for excessive courtesy."

Pei Zhi rose to his feet, his gaze sweeping over Shen Shuangning without a change in expression, then said to the nearby official, "I'll say a few words to them."

Everyone in the court knew that the Junior Tutor was the princess's teacher; perhaps he had something to convey at this moment.

Gu Fengchun clasped his hands and said respectfully, "Then I'll wait over there."

Pei Zhi nodded.

After Gu Fengchun walked away, Shen Shuangning obediently poured a cup of tea for Pei Zhi and then asked, "That official looks unfamiliar."

Pei Zhi said, "He has just been transferred from the Jiangxi Judicial Office and is the newly appointed Vice Minister of Justice."

Shen Shuangning did not ask further.

Pei Zhi looked at Jingyu and said, "You didn't go practice archery and horsemanship today?"

Jingyu replied, "General Zhang's family had something come up, so I didn't go."

She didn't mention going to the Splendid Palace.

Pei Zhi gave a slight nod, his gaze falling again on Shen Shuangning's face, only to see her turn her head and stare straight at the ripples stirred by the wind, unknown what she was thinking, her delicate brows unconsciously knitting slightly.

Pei Zhi lowered his eyelids and said, "I heard Xie Lin has joined the Golden Guard; that position is not bad, and he will surely have a boundless future."

It took Shen Shuangning a moment to realize that Pei Zhi was speaking to her; she softly replied, "Yes."

In her brows and eyes only worry could be seen, no obvious joy.

Thus Pei Zhi guessed that the crown princess must have said something to Shen Shuangning.

Even the crown princess herself didn't know that on that day, when she eavesdropped at the wall corner, Pei Zhi had seen it, though he said nothing.

In her previous life, Shen Shuangning married without hesitation into the Yan Prince's mansion, but in the end the Duke's mansion suffered successive mishaps; she could do nothing but watch helplessly.

In this life, she clearly intends to make up for past regrets, valuing the Duke's mansion above all else.

Now that she knows the Yongning Marquis's mansion faces imminent collapse, will she still, as before, choose Xie Lin without regard for anything else?

Pei Zhi was somewhat curious about Shen Shuangning's plans.

Of course, even if she remains willing, he has myriad ways to make her obediently return to his side.

In Pei Zhi's unfathomable eyes flashed a determination to possess her at all costs; he concealed this secret thought very well.

To others, he remained as serene as a gentle breeze and bright moon, a gentleman among gentlemen.

Pei Zhi indeed only said a few words before taking his leave, departing together with that official from the Ministry of Justice.

Not long after Pei Zhi left, something happened on the crown princess's side.

"The Crown Prince is going to take a concubine; when the crown princess heard... she fainted!"

The maidserv attending the crown princess spoke while she couldn't help but redden her eyes.

"The imperial physician has already rushed over; for now it's really inconvenient to receive guests, so please, Your Highness the Princess and Fourth Miss, return first." She swallowed her sobs and bowed to Jingyu and Shen Shuangning.

Jingyu exclaimed in surprise, "Elder brother Crown Prince actually wants to take a concubine; how could this be so sudden?"

But aside from Jingyu, others were not particularly surprised.

The crown princess's health is poor, making it hard for her to bear children; for the Crown Prince to secure an heir, taking a concubine was bound to happen sooner or later.

"May I ask whom the Crown Prince intends to take as a concubine?" Shen Shuangning asked.

"It is the eldest daughter of the Song family."

Upon hearing this, Jingyu was so shocked her jaw almost hit the ground!

Shen Shuangning's face also changed.

It turned out to be Song Xizhi.

But upon further thought, it didn't seem all that surprising.

The maid said with some indignation, "The Crown Prince went out for a trip, came back and said he would marry the eldest daughter of the Song family, merely informing the crown princess. The crown princess was holding a bowl of longevity noodles; upon hearing it she smashed it to the ground, and the Crown Prince... he didn't even glance at it before flicking his sleeves and leaving!"

"Poor crown princess, with all her sincere efforts..."

Jingyu and Shen Shuangning exchanged a glance, momentarily at a loss for words.

Shen Shuangning's face sank, and in her heart she already felt some displeasure toward the Crown Prince.

Two days later, the news that the Crown Prince would take a concubine spread throughout Jingcheng.

What was even more shocking was that the woman he intended to marry was none other than the daughter of a disgraced official—Song Xizhi.

Although Song Xizhi was originally a lady of a noble family, unfortunately her grandfather Song Zhang brought disaster upon the whole family; in fact, she herself had done nothing wrong.

A concubine differs from a crown princess, involving less ceremony; the emperor thus let the Crown Prince proceed, and the empress naturally would not say more.

Thus the wedding date was set for next month.

This became after-dinner talk among the great clans.

After all, who doesn't know that Song Xizhi originally refused the Crown Prince for the sake of Xiao Shizi, but now that the Song family has fallen and the Yan Prince's mansion refuses to take her in, she actually turned around and went to the Crown Prince instead.

Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince didn't mind either; he still wished to marry her, granting her the position of concubine.

For a time, some lamented the Crown Prince's deep affection, some pitied the crown princess's difficult situation, and some envied Song Xizhi's good fortune, able to obtain such a favorable refuge even in adversity...

All kinds of rumors swirled, saying everything imaginable.

But soon, the news of the visit from the Nüzhen State princess overshadowed the matter of the Crown Prince taking a concubine.

Simply because this Nüzhen State princess actually intended to select a prince consort in Liang.