"Little Jiu takes her leave!" The Ninth Princess knew what her father and mother consort would do next, and she felt a hint of anticipation. After marriage, would Song Xiuyuan do such things with her?
Thinking of this, her face turned crimson. She was going to marry Song Xiuyuan, she absolutely had to marry him.
"Beloved consort, rest well. I have matters to attend to, I shall take my leave now." The Jade Emperor left in high spirits.
"Chun Xia, Chun Yu," Consort Wan called out.
Soon, two palace maids entered. Consort Wan spoke to one of them, "Chun Yu, go and invite the Prime Minister. Tell him this Consort wishes to summon him."
"Yes, Your Highness," Chun Yu replied and left.
Consort Wan changed her clothes with the help of Chun Xia, then sat back on the couch.
"Prime Minister, Consort Wan summons you." Chun Yu had arrived beside Song Xiuyuan.
Song Xiuyuan nodded. "Is there something?"
Chun Yu shook her head. "This servant does not know. The Consort merely wishes to summon the Prime Minister. This servant did not hear any specific matters."
"Lead the way!" Song Xiuyuan said.
Chun Yu nodded, and as they walked, she whispered, "Prime Minister, recently the Consort has been close to the Crown Princess."
Upon hearing Chun Yu's words, Song Xiuyuan's gaze deepened. They arrived at Consort Wan's Huan Yi Palace. Chun Yu bowed and said, "Please wait here, Prime Minister. Allow this servant to inform her."
"Alright," Song Xiuyuan replied.
A moment later, Chun Yu emerged. "Prime Minister, the Consort invites you in."
Song Xiuyuan nodded and followed Chun Yu into the main hall of Huan Yi Palace.
Seated at the head of the main hall was a beautiful woman wearing a crimson palace gown embroidered with floral patterns. Although she had given birth to the Fourth Prince and the Ninth Princess, there were no signs of aging. However, beneath her beautiful eyes, a murderous intent lurked.
"Your subject pays his respects to Your Highness," Song Xiuyuan said, bowing slightly.
Consort Wan waved her hand. "Prime Minister, please rise! Have a seat brought for the Prime Minister."
A palace maid hurriedly brought a stool. Consort Wan smiled and said, "Prime Minister, please be seated."
"Thank you, Your Highness," Song Xiuyuan said, sitting down without any pretense.
Consort Wan observed Song Xiuyuan. This was the first time she had seen the Prime Minister up close. It was said he was already past his twenties. At his age, to have remained chaste was remarkable.
For years, no one had heard of him having any concubines or mistresses. The only woman he had acknowledged recently was his fiancée. Such a man was either heartless or had a heart of stone, meaning he was uninterested in women. Others might find her thoughts absurd, but for someone in the inner palace, such things were not uncommon.
Seeing Consort Wan observing him, he lowered his head slightly and said, "May I know why Your Highness has summoned this subject?"
"Prime Minister, you are exceptionally intelligent. How could you not know why this Consort has summoned you?" Consort Wan leaned back against a cushion that a palace maid had placed behind her, speaking lazily.
"This subject is foolish. I beg Your Highness to enlighten me."
Consort Wan snorted. "If you are foolish, then I doubt anyone in the Yu Kingdom could match your intellect."
"Your Highness's praise humbles me," Song Xiuyuan replied coolly.
"Enough. This Consort will not quibble with you. This Consort has one question for the Prime Minister."
"Your Highness, please speak."
"Why did you refuse to marry the Ninth Princess?"
Song Xiuyuan stood up from the stool, standing tall and graceful. At that moment, a nobility emanated from him, and even Consort Wan couldn't help but be startled. Such transcendent excellence was indeed not possessed by ordinary men.
However, this elegance was somewhat wasted on his ordinary features. Yet, he could not be called ordinary, for his demeanor and grace more than compensated for this flaw.
It was only because she was the Emperor's consort. If she were an unmarried maiden, perhaps she too would have been attracted by this aura.
Song Xiuyuan bowed slightly. "Your Highness, this subject is not worthy of Princess Jiu, nor can I treat Princess Jiu with unwavering devotion. Therefore, I do not wish to delay Princess Jiu. Hence, I refused this marriage. I beg Your Highness to understand."
Consort Wan snorted. "Do you think this Consort believes you are worthy of Princess Jiu? If Princess Jiu had not been insistent on marrying only you, this Consort would not have wanted to marry Princess Jiu to you. But Princess Jiu has set her heart on you, and this Consort can do nothing. In that case, the Prime Minister must yield."
"Your Highness, this subject fears I must disappoint you."
"Oh? Do you refuse to marry the Ninth Princess?" Consort Wan raised her voice, her beautiful eyes looking coldly at Song Xiuyuan.
"As I have said, I have a fiancée, and we are deeply in love. If Your Highness insists, are you trying to break up a loving couple?" Song Xiuyuan looked up at Consort Wan, who was momentarily stunned.
She hadn't known Song Xiuyuan possessed such clear, bright eyes, like a still, clear lake. You never knew how deep it was, how much silt was at the bottom, or if falling in would lead to eternal damnation.
But soon, Song Xiuyuan lowered his gaze.
Consort Wan came back to her senses, frowning slightly. She looked elsewhere, the lingering sense of apprehension still present.
Those eyes seemed vaguely familiar, but she couldn't recall who it was for a moment. Soon, she forgot, for she was furious. Was a butcher's daughter truly inferior to the dignified Ninth Princess?
"Prime Minister, what you said is a bit excessive. This Consort has no intention of being such a person. As long as she can be a secondary wife, and the Ninth Princess the primary wife, this Consort will accept it."
"Your Highness, this is absolutely not possible. This subject has already pledged his life to his fiancée and will only have her for life."
"Presumptuous!" Consort Wan slammed the armrest in anger.
"Is my Ninth Princess truly inferior to a butcher's daughter?" This Song Xiuyuan refused a toast only to be forced to drink a penalty.
Song Xiuyuan's tone grew colder. "Your Highness, this subject does not wish to speak falsely. In this subject's heart, she is superior to anyone."
"You..." Consort Wan felt extremely angry but soon relaxed. She stood up, slowly walked down the steps, and came to Song Xiuyuan's side. Looking at Song Xiuyuan from such a close distance.
She discovered even more upon closer inspection. As she stood before him, he remained neither humble nor arrogant, his expression solemn, like a man of clear winds and bright moons. For some reason, she suddenly felt that such a person was no ordinary individual.
If such a person could assist the Fourth Prince, then he certainly had the potential to ascend the throne. This was also why she so strongly wished for the Ninth Princess to marry him. Once such a person joined the Fourth Prince's faction, the Fourth Prince's chances would greatly increase.
While the Emperor currently appeared robust, his internal health was already depleted. He would not live much longer. Aside from the Third Prince, who was the Crown Prince's full brother, the remaining four princes were all contenders for the throne.