Chapter 472: South An Grand Consort and Eastern Ping Crown Prince Consort

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Everyone stared at each other, each gaze carrying its own meaning.

The Jia Mansion is not holding a grand ceremony today; only a few closest relatives and nearby branches of the clan were invited.

Yet the South An Grand Consort and the Eastern Ping Crown Prince Consort were not on the guest list, but they arrived at this hour, both dignitaries rarely seen, and no one knows their purpose!

Princess Zhen of the Northern Tranquil Kingdom flashed a look, her expression inscrutable.

She had heard from her husband that the Prince of South An secretly feuds with the Duke of Jing, and that the Jiang family of the Plain Marquis—who were the mother's family of the Prince's wife—were executed in the recent court assassination case; the grudges run deep!

Moreover, the three military orders issued yesterday by the Duke of Jing were aimed at the veteran martial heroes of Shenjing; the South An Grand Consort and the Eastern Ping Crown Prince Consort must have ill intentions!

Ms. Li furrowed her brows, her gaze also thoughtful!

Ms. Niu's fair face also showed solemnity; having dealt with the South An Grand Consort before, she knew she was no gentle soul!

Jia Mu's smile faded slightly, her eyes dimmed for a moment, but she quickly regained her previous kindness, lifted her hand to smooth her sleeve, and said to Yuan Chun sitting nearby:

"Big maid, you and your mother, go welcome them for me."

Both Yuan Chun and Lady Wang hold official duties, so going out to welcome is appropriate.

She nodded at Lady Wang again, her tone revealing no emotion, and instructed in a hoarse voice:

"The South An Grand Consort is of noble status; she must not be neglected!"

The title 'Grand Consort' naturally refers to the mother of the Prince of South An, the widow of the late Prince of South An!

The South An Prince's residence has drifted apart from the Jia Mansion over the years, and Jia Mu knows this, not to mention her own third grandson who has now offended many abroad.

Just as a few days ago, because of the Jiang and Shi families' affair, the South An Grand Consort had visited, but Jia Mu feigned illness and did not see her.

Now, under the pretext of the birthday banquet, they return, most likely bearing ill news; yet Jia Mu cannot shut the doors, lest she completely rips the face off!

Yuan Chun replied, stepped forward to support Lady Wang, and led a few maids out.

Soon, Yuan Chun and Lady Wang escorted the South An Grand Consort, the Eastern Ping Crown Prince Consort, and a group of matriarchs into Rong Qing Tang.

The South An Grand Consort was about seventy years old, her hair like silver, yet spry; she wore a crimson‑purple embroidered silk robe, a phoenix hairpin of red gold set with jade, leaned on a dragon‑head cane, walked steadily, and bore an air of dignified authority.

Upon entering, she scanned the hall, caught Princess Zhen and Ms. Li of the Nian family staring in surprise, then quickly piled on a smile and said to Jia Mu:

"Old birthday star! Old birthday star! I'm late! Today is your auspicious day; last night I tossed and turned, thinking of coming to see you and share your abundant blessings!"

The Eastern Ping Crown Prince Consort followed, about thirty‑something, dressed in a lake‑blue gold‑woven brocade robe, her face beautiful, yet her eyes carried an unmistakable worldly shrewdness.

She entered and performed a thousand‑fold salute to Jia Mu, her tone deliberately affectionate:

"Pay respects to the matriarch! May your blessings be as vast as the Eastern Sea and your longevity as the Southern Mountains. Our elder lord heard I would come to celebrate, and he specifically asked me to convey his greetings!"

That line was obviously nonsense; who in Shenjing doesn't know that the Eastern Ping Prince is on his deathbed, unable to speak a word!

Although Jia Mu felt wary, she kept a smiling face and said:

"Very well, very well!"

Jia Mu, while speaking, had the staff arrange seats and ordered tea to be poured.

The South An Grand Consort and the Eastern Ping Crown Prince Consort exchanged greetings with Princess Zhen, Ms. Li, Ms. Niu, and others before taking their seats.

In an instant, the vast Rong Qing Tang filled with chirping birds, glittering jewels, and a kaleidoscope of colors.

Jia Mu's red‑gold forehead seal, the South An Grand Consort's dragon‑head cane, and Princess Zhen's golden‑thread phoenix hairpin with jeweled bead, all glimmered with varying halos under the candlelight and sunlight streaming through the windows.

Layered silk robes and embroidered skirts, jingling jade and pearl ornaments, piled the birthday banquet's atmosphere into extraordinary merriment.

Those at the main seats, side seats, standing, or attending, all surrounded by pearls and jade, their hair and garments fragrant, truly a blossom of splendor and wealth.

After a few brief exchanges, Jia Mu smiled and asked:

"Today is merely a minor birthday; why must the Grand Consort come in person?"

It was also a pretext for not inviting the South An and Eastern Ping families; it's a minor birthday, not a full longevity celebration!

At the same time, she inquired about their true purpose!

Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look at the South An Grand Consort.

Usually such birthday banquets send invitations; an uninvited arrival surely signals ulterior motives.

Feng Wan, Si Chun, Ke Qing, You Shi, Bao Dai, and Nian Shilan all watched silently.

Tan Chun, expression unchanged, stood behind Mrs. Xing, her gaze full of caution; she always felt uneasy when looking at the South An Grand Consort.

Only Ms. Xie smiled warmly at the two South An Grand Consorts, as if seeing her own people.

"Older sister, to be frank, I came not only to pay respects but also have a matter in mind."

The South An Grand Consort began to preface, seemingly waiting for Jia Mu to ask what the matter was!

Jia Mu's spirit tightened; she lifted a cup of tea to moisten her throat and thought:

It must not be some outside affair; she doesn't want to hear about outside matters now, let alone promise anything.

The people present all wore looks confirming exactly that.

Seeing Jia Mu give no sign to ask, the South An Grand Consort didn't mind, her eyes flickered as she spoke to herself:

"Older sister, just yesterday I dined with Ming Er; seeing his complexion was off, I asked and learned it was because of your brother Jia Jing's matter!"

Ming Er is Prince Huo Zhaoming of South An.

Yesterday, the South An Prince's household dined together; Huo Zhaoming was weighed down with worries, which the South An Grand Consort sensed and inquired about, learning it concerned the military orders from the Prime Minister's Military Affairs Office.

After the South An Grand Consort grasped the three blunt military orders concerning Jia Jing, her heart filled with anxiety and anger, prompting her to use today's birthday banquet to test and pressure.

Hearing Jia Jing's name, Jia Mu, unaware of what trouble her third grandson had caused abroad, could only ask:

"What's wrong with Jing brother?"

Jia Mu still knows nothing of the three military orders or current outside affairs; unless she proactively asks Jia Zheng or Tan Chun, she has no source of information!