Qian'er thought, and Feng Yexuan's indifferent eyes immediately flashed in her mind.
The thought sent a shiver down her spine.
"If the Prince knew that the Princess was intending... to put on a show for him, the Prince... would never believe the Princess again!"
The more Qian'er thought about it, the more frightened she became.
"Princess, what... do you plan to do from now on?"
But really, why couldn't the Princess just get along with the Prince?
"As long as the Princess's heart is with the Prince, he will always cherish you."
"Is that so?" Chu Qianli didn't know if it was true cherishing, or just his possessiveness from on high.
How many people in this world could truly fathom Feng Yexuan's thoughts?
"Of course!"
Qian'er felt her intuition was very accurate.
The Prince truly liked the Princess!
"As long as the Princess is sincerely with the Prince, the position of Empress in the future... even if you can't be Empress, you can definitely be a Consort."
"Mm," Chu Qianli nodded, but said nothing.
Whether it was Consort or Empress, she didn't care.
Why would she want to live a life of competition among women?
In the harem, women made things difficult for other women, and their entire lives were dedicated to pleasing that man, and to suppressing other women in the harem.
This was not the life she wanted.
"Princess?" Qian'er looked shocked.
How could the Princess agree, and even respond with an "Mm"?
Had the Princess truly come to her senses? Was she not just placating her?
"What? Am I not doing well by listening to you?"
Chu Qianli didn't want to talk anymore. She tidied her things, stood up, and limped towards the door.
"Princess, where are you going?" Qian'er followed behind.
"I'm going to try and please your Prince. Didn't you tell me to?"
"Ah?" Go and please the Prince now? Really?
It didn't seem like the Princess's usual temperament at all!
Qian'er was stunned. She even forgot to go and help, and watched as Chu Qianli limped to the door, in front of the two guards.
"I have something, I need to see the Prince."
"Apologies, Miss Li, the Prince has ordered you to recuperate in the courtyard. Please return!" the two said expressionlessly.
Chu Qianli said, "Then... how about this? You help me tell Leng Ji, tell him that I have something important to discuss with him."
Seeing them still wanting to refuse, she added, "It's very important. If you don't go, I'll commit suicide, really."
"..."
The two guards looked as if they had eaten a fly, wanting to say something, but unable to.
Crazy!
Simply insane!
In the end, someone reluctantly ran to find Leng Ji.
When Leng Ji arrived, he was so anxious that his whole body was tense. "Princess... Miss Li, don't do anything rash! You..."
Chu Qianli was drinking tea, leisurely and unhurriedly.
Leng Ji, who pushed the door open, was a little taken aback. "Miss Li?"
"I just wanted to find you, but they wouldn't agree, so I just made up an excuse."
She smiled, but today's smile no longer carried disdain and indifference.
Instead, it was light, faint, like the gentle breeze outside.
Leng Ji was stunned. It took him a long time to fully digest her words.
Afterward, his expression darkened, and he turned and walked out.
He returned not long after, and said respectfully to Chu Qianli, "Miss Li, I have already instructed them. From now on, whatever you want, you can have them come to me."
"Alright, thank you then."
Chu Qianli stood up and walked towards him. "Now, I want to see the Prince. Please lead the way."
"This..." Leng Ji looked a little hesitant.
"If the Prince is busy, I can wait outside his door."
Chu Qianli was sincere and looked pious.
It was rare for her to be so calm and want to see the Prince, and to proactively offer to wait. Leng Ji was initially very happy.
Perhaps she had suddenly come to her senses, realizing that continuing to fight with the Prince would bring her no benefit.
Leng Ji, grateful for her having saved the Prince in the past, had always hoped she could reconcile with the Prince.
However...
"Miss Li, the Prince is currently... indeed busy. The Empress Dowager has arrived."
... Chu Qianli waited in the side hall.
She waited for over an hour.
The Empress Dowager seemed to be persuading someone, but because she was too far away, Chu Qianli couldn't hear clearly.
It seemed everyone was trying to persuade him, but Prince Xuan's expression remained cold, with little emotion on his face.
When everyone left after an unpleasant parting, Chu Qianli finally saw clearly that Chu Huaiyu was also present.
She walked behind the Empress Dowager, and as the Empress Dowager came out, she was still speaking to her.
"Xuan'er is still too young, in the prime of his youth, it's inevitable he might lose control."
"In the future, you must be more accommodating. After all, you are the girl he brought home publicly, with noble birth, and the daughter of Long Qianyue."
The Empress Dowager held Chu Huaiyu's hand and said meaningfully, "Royal men are destined to never have only one woman in their lifetime. Huaiyu, you must learn to be magnanimous. In the future, you can even be the mother of the nation."
"Huaiyu understands."
Chu Huaiyu was shy, but very resolute, and also gentle and obedient.
"Huaiyu believes that the Prince is just young and spirited. If my fifth sister can please him, Huaiyu will also be happy."
"As long as the Prince is happy, Huaiyu will also be happy. Whatever kind of woman the Prince wants, Huaiyu will fulfill it."
"So well-behaved." This is what the mother of a nation should be like.
The Empress Dowager began to favor Chu Huaiyu again.
Chu Qianli was ungracious and arrogant, unsuitable to be Empress.
Yu Linglong, though seemingly gentle, was actually petty and hot-tempered. Having known her for many years, the Empress Dowager was clear about this.
The Empress Dowager liked Yu Linglong and doted on her like her own child, but this did not mean she thought she was suitable to be Empress.
As for Chu Huaiyu, although she did have some schemes, what woman in the harem didn't?
As long as she was sensible and knew her place, even with some schemes, the Empress Dowager felt it was acceptable.
Most importantly, she was the girl Prince Xuan personally brought home from a banquet arranged by the Empress.
What did this signify?
The entire royal family knew that Chu Huaiyu was definitely the future Princess Xuan!
One must bet on the right person.
The Empress Dowager no longer saw hope in Yu Linglong.
"Huaiyu, I will go back to appease the Emperor first. As for Xuan'er, you will have to take more care of him."
Chu Huaiyu immediately nodded. "Yes, Huaiyu will serve the Prince well."
As they took two more steps, they stopped at the same time.
They saw Chu Qianli.
"Greetings, Empress Dowager." Out of courtesy, Chu Qianli still bowed to the Empress Dowager.
Chu Huaiyu immediately inclined her body. "Fifth Sister."
Chu Qianli ignored her.
The Empress Dowager immediately became displeased with her again.
The daughter of a singer was truly not presentable, not even understanding basic etiquette!
The Empress Dowager immediately said to Chu Huaiyu, "You are the legitimate daughter of the Duke's mansion. Although she is your sister, she is concubine-born. You don't need to bow to her in the future."
Chu Qianli, however, smiled and said, "What if she is not Long Qianyue's daughter at all?"