"Mother." Before he even arrived, his voice preceded him. As a group of servants in the courtyard bowed and paid their respects, a noble young master, about seventeen or eighteen years old, strode towards the Princess Consort's main courtyard.
Princess Consort Rui waved the maid who had just spoken to step aside. A smile bloomed on her usually dignified and beautiful face. "How old are you, and you're still so impetuous."
"No matter how old I get, I'm still Mother's good son." The noble young master, his hair tied up with a jade hairpin, was clearly pampered. His words still carried the intimacy of a young man.
After the maids helped him remove his cloak, Yin Chengye sat affectionately on the round stool to Princess Consort Rui's right. "I heard Nanny Lu say Mother didn't sleep well last night. Have you had your pulse taken for peace of mind?"
Princess Consort Rui, her fingers adorned with bright red henna, lovingly stroked her son's head. Hearing his filial words, she felt incredibly comforted, and her air of haughtiness vanished. "No need to see the imperial physician. A short nap will suffice."
"Is it because of the Marquis of Wu'an's estate?" Yin Chengye spoke again, his handsome and noble face suddenly darkening. "Mother is magnanimous. Since the Marquis of Wu'an's estate is unappreciative, let this marriage be called off. Mother need not worry herself sick over me."
If You Ba Wang had not died, a庶女 (shu nü - daughter of a concubine) from the Marquis of Wu'an's estate, especially one who had been sent to a manor to fend for herself since childhood, would never have been qualified to enter the gates of the Prince Rui's mansion.
In the end, it was You Qi's good fortune. You Ba Wang was killed, and the Marquis of Wu'an's estate was left without an heir. Although You Qi was a庶女, she still carried the blood of the Marquis of Wu'an.
Within five generations of the You family, there were no suitable male heirs for adoption. Therefore, if You Qi's son could later change his surname to You and be adopted into the Marquis of Wu'an's estate, he would undoubtedly inherit everything.
"The Marquis of Wu'an did not refuse, it was merely that Madam Du was unappreciative," Princess Consort Rui scoffed with an air of arrogance. What was Madam Du? Without a son and heir, she was merely a title of Marchioness. When Princess Consort Rui had taken the initiative to extend an olive branch, Madam Du had dared to play hard to get.
"Does Mother mean that Madam Du released those rumors not just to vent her anger, but also as an indirect rejection of the marriage?" Although Yin Chengye acted like an immature young man in front of Princess Consort Rui, whenever it came to serious matters, he would reveal his intelligent and astute side.
Very pleased that her son understood so quickly, Princess Consort Rui smiled and said, "I stooped to visit Yufeng Tower, and who knew that that lowly girl would refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. She was taken away by the Forbidden Dragon Guards. When the time comes, we'll send the corpse over, which should appease the Marquis of Wu'an's estate."
Princess Consort Rui's tone was casual, showing no regard for an innocent life. A lowly girl who dared to offend her deserved to die. It was also indirectly related to this lowly girl that You Ba Wang had died. However, Madam Du had only spread vulgar rumors and had also blocked Princess Consort Rui's subsequent arrangements, clearly indicating her desire for Zhan Feiyu to live a life worse than death.
Princess Consort Rui wanted to kill someone, but Madam Du wanted that person to live, especially when Princess Consort Rui intended to marry into the Marquis of Wu'an's estate. This was clearly a deliberate act of defiance against Princess Consort Rui.
"When it comes to magnanimity, the Marchioness is far beyond Mother's reach." Yin Chengye looked up, his phoenix eyes, so like Prince Rui's, held not only filial affection but also a degree of awe and admiration.
Princess Consort Rui, pleased, smiled again. Despite her excellent upkeep, fine lines were still visible around her eyes. "She is merely unwilling to accept it. A庶女 who was originally trampled underfoot has now turned the tables. But rest assured, my son, it is not for a mere woman to decide matters of the Marquis of Wu'an's estate."
By marrying a庶女, he could gain the Marquis of Wu'an's connections in the military. Yin Chengye lowered his head, his dark phoenix eyes flashing. His mother was merely a woman of the inner court. The Marquis of Wu'an had not immediately agreed to his mother's proposal, which meant he would have to make a personal visit.
"Mother, since that lowly girl dared to offend you, I will personally go to the Forbidden Dragon Guards!" Yin Chengye stood up. The Marquis of Wu'an's estate had originally planned to arrest her and hand her over to the Five City Patrols, but now, by chance, that lowly girl had entered the Forbidden Dragon Guards, and the Marquis of Wu'an's estate could no longer intervene.
Yin Chengye intended to kill her. This way, he could also demonstrate his capabilities to the Marquis of Wu'an, who would likely be pleased to have a son-in-law who was not lacking in skill or strategy.
The mention of the Forbidden Dragon Guards instantly shifted Princess Consort Rui's expression from pleasant to stormy. Beneath her exquisite makeup was undisguised disgust. "Why should my son dirty his noble feet in such a filthy place? I will handle this matter!"
Just as she disliked her son going to the Forbidden Dragon Guards, Princess Consort Rui also did not want to go there herself. However, she could order that bastard to act.
Yin Chengye's eyes showed concern as he looked at the angered Princess Consort Rui with heartache. "I should still go. I heard he will be arriving in the capital this afternoon. Mother should drink some calming soup and rest well."
If he were not in the Forbidden Dragon Guards, Princess Consort Rui would not even want to mention that bastard. But she was even less willing to see her beloved son be humiliated.
Especially when she recalled that time she had caught a cold, and her younger son had personally gone to see that bastard, wanting him to return home to visit her. That bastard had actually kicked her younger son so hard that he vomited blood. Princess Consort Rui wished she could dismember him a thousand times over.