Chapter 072: Matriarchy 13

Prime Minister Liu was truly overjoyed. If his own son was married off, then no matter how powerful the Crown Princess might become, there would be no way for her to force a respectable young man to marry again.

“By the way, what is that person’s family background?” Prime Minister Liu inquired.

“Well…” Liu Furlang’s expression grew somewhat complicated. “It’s very good.”

“And appearance?”

“He’s rather handsome.”

“And talent?”

Recalling the Crown Princess’s reputation as a blockhead, Liu Furlang hesitated. “Not very impressive.”

“That’s nothing,” Prime Minister Liu’s brows furrowed, then quickly relaxed. “As the foremost scholar in Hongxing, I am confident I can teach her to be learned and wise.”

Liu Furlang’s expression grew even more complex.

Noticing his look, Prime Minister Liu asked, “What is it? Is there something wrong?”

“The main wife… Qingyun’s beloved is the Crown Princess.”

“The Crown Princess? Very well, the Crown Prin—” Prime Minister Liu’s words halted abruptly, thinking he had misheard. “Who?”

“Her Highness, the Crown Princess,” Liu Furlang repeated.

Prime Minister Liu fell silent.

After a long time, she let out a heavy sigh and said to Liu Furlang, “This is truly a willow planted by accident, now grown to a fine shade. Since fate has brought them together, we will not stand in their way.”

The next day, after court was dismissed, Prime Minister Liu, on his way to the Upper Study, caught sight of the Crown Princess ahead.

He hurried to catch up.

“Your Highness,” he greeted respectfully.

“There’s no need for such formality, Prime Minister Liu,” Le Yixian replied, gently raising her hand.

Prime Minister Liu straightened, looking at her. “Ordinarily, Your Highness should be in the Imperial Study attending to state matters at this time. Why…”

“I was waiting for you, Prime Minister Liu,” Le Yixian said.

Prime Minister Liu was startled.

“I suppose you already know about Qingyun and me,” Le Yixian continued. “I plan to speak with my father about it today and will formally marry him.”

“I thank Your Highness for your favor toward Qingyun.”

“And also, I intend to resign my position as Crown Princess with my mother in the near future,” Le Yixian suddenly declared.

Prime Minister Liu was stunned.

“Your Highness, you mustn’t speak such things lightly!” She glanced around anxiously, relieved to see no one nearby, and lowered her voice.

“I am not speaking lightly,” Le Yixian replied. “Qingyun’s health is frail. In the future, I intend to live in seclusion with him.”

At this, Prime Minister Liu’s face grew complicated and doubtful.

As parents, one naturally wishes for their children’s happiness and health.

But the title “Crown Princess” represented supreme status—generations of empresses had vied for it with all their cunning, and now this person claimed she would relinquish it for her son.

“Your Highness, though I think highly of my son, he is not worth your surrendering such a position.”

“Whether he’s worth it or not is not for you to say. It is enough that I believe he is,” Le Yixian’s words left Prime Minister Liu speechless.

That night, back at home, Prime Minister Liu said to his husband, “Qingyun has found someone who truly cares for him.” After a pause, she added, “Still, we should prepare a more generous dowry for him—lest the Crown Princess loses her title and the two end up destitute.”

Le Yixian’s intention to marry Prime Minister Liu’s son was welcomed by the Imperial Consort, but the Empress was not in favor, and the matter remained unresolved.

Not long after, everyone saw the Crown Princess enter the Imperial Study.

No one knew what transpired within, but it was said the Empress was furious and smashed her beloved inkstone.

Yet, whatever was said, once the Crown Princess emerged, an imperial edict of betrothal was sent to the Prime Minister’s residence.

The marriage between the Crown Princess and the Prime Minister’s second son was thus arranged.

Many officials who had leaned toward the Third Princess began to reconsider; with the Prime Minister as her backing, the Crown Princess’s influence had grown, and their loyalties wavered.

All of Hongxing was abuzz with anticipation.

Then, unexpectedly, the Crown Princess and the Third Princess were seen laughing together, and all who witnessed it were dumbfounded.

People started to wonder if they had been overthinking things—perhaps the royal sisters’ relationship was not as shallow as they had imagined.

That summer, a dike in the He province of Hongxing gave way, and the Empress dispatched the Crown Princess and the Princess to the disaster area.

Before departing, Le Yixian visited her beloved at home, teasing him until his perpetually pale cheeks flushed red, then nodded in satisfaction, “Promise me you’ll take your medicine properly, all right?”

Seeing she was truly about to leave, Liu Qingyun was reluctant to part and said, “I’ll wait for your return!”

Le Yixian paused, suddenly struck by a sense of foreboding. Why did she feel uneasy?

Wherever the heroine went, hardship followed.

On the very first day the imperial delegation arrived at the disaster zone, they were nearly assassinated by the desperate victims.

In the end, the Third Princess stepped forward, persuading the ringleader to stand down and assuring the crowd that justice would be served.

Le Yixian watched as the Third Princess calmed the furious masses and earned the ringleader’s approval. She stroked her chin, straining to recall the plot.

In her mind, the mischievous Gousheng appeared, flashing a line of text.

The leader inciting the chaos was Shi Yichou, one of the heroine’s future consorts, grandson of a general who served under the former emperor. The general was wrongfully accused and executed along with his whole family; Shi Yichou’s mother alone escaped and gave birth to Shi Yihen.

According to the story, the Third Princess and he would go on to have a long, tangled, and tormented romance.

Throughout the relief efforts, Le Yixian took no part in the administration, leaving all matters, great and small, to Hong Anle, while she idled away each day, writing a letter home to her beloved to assure him of her safety.

The local officials observed this and shook their heads, reporting it truthfully.

A month passed swiftly.

The Third Princess, not disappointing expectations, was awarded the Umbrella of the People, while the Crown Princess lounged in her carriage, watching the spectacle.

When Hong Anle climbed into the carriage, she found her royal sister cheerfully eating a plate of pastries. She sighed helplessly, “Sister, eat less or you’ll get sick from all the jolting.”

“It’s nothing,” Le Yixian replied, shaking her head as she continued eating.

Hong Anle regarded her, her gaze inscrutable.

But on the journey home, their convoy was ambushed. The Crown Princess fell from her horse and was gravely injured, losing consciousness, while the Third Princess disappeared amid the chaos.

Two princesses: one badly hurt, the other missing.

When the Empress learned of this, her fury was boundless, and she ordered a thorough investigation.

Back at the Prime Minister’s residence, Liu Qingyun shattered his cup upon hearing the news brought by Xiao Liu.

His body swayed and he fainted on the spot.

When he awoke, he had fallen ill.

Prime Minister Liu pressed his shoulder. “The news has already come: the Crown Princess has regained consciousness and will return to the capital in five days. Rest and recover first.”

The officials watched the Crown Princess’s carriage return to the city, each convinced that the previous display of sisterly affection had been a sham.

The Third Princess’s fate remained unknown, while the Crown Princess returned unscathed.

The more they dwelled on it, the more frightening it seemed.

Truly, there was no trusting in royal sisterhood.